Patent ID: 6079010
Filing Date: 2000-06-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A computer system which supports N different machine views, where N.gtoreq.2, the system comprising:a memory;at least one execution unit for processing data based on execution controls generated from instructions retrieved from the memory;a plurality of decoders coupled between the memory and the execution unit, wherein a given one of the decoders is operative to decode at least a portion of the instructions retrieved from the memory in accordance with a corresponding one of the N machine views supported by the system; andselection circuitry for controlling selection of a given one of the plurality of decoders based at least in part on one or more of the retrieved instructions, wherein at least one of the retrieved instructions comprises a branch instruction directing the computer system to branch from one of the machine views to another of the machine views, and further wherein an indicator of a given one of the machine views in use upon receipt of the branch instruction is stored such that when instruction execution returns to an instruction following the branch instruction, the system returns to using the given machine view.