Patent ID: 6170001
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A data processing apparatus for at least storing data, said data comprised of first and second type data, said first type data having a format different from said second type data, said apparatus having a mode of operation wherein data of said second type, comprising an even multiple of data words, is processed, the data processing apparatus comprises: a register bank having a plurality of data slots for storing data words of said first type data and said second type data; transfer logic responsive to a store instruction, to control the storing of the data words in the register bank to a memory; a format register for storing format data indicating the distribution in the register bank of data words of data of said first type data and said second type data; in said mode of operation, the transfer logic being responsive to said store instruction specifying an even number of data words to cause those data words to be stored from said register bank to said memory, and being responsive to said store instruction specifying an odd number of data words, to cause the format data from the format register to be stored to said memory along with an even number of data words from the register bank.