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  Unpack instructionUSPTO Application #: 20060026398Title: Unpack instruction Abstract: A processor executes an instruction that causes a source data field from a programmable position within a first source register to be copied to a destination register. The instruction is particularly useful for generating media-based bitstreams (e.g., audio, video). In some embodiments, a system (e.g., a communication device such as cellular telephone) includes a processor capable of executing the instruction as described above. (end of abstract) Agent: Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas, TX, US Inventors: Gilbert Cabillic, Jean-Philippe Lesot, Gerard Chauvel, Dominique D'Inverno, Jaques Mequin USPTO Applicaton #: 20060026398 - Class: 712224000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Electrical Computers And Digital Processing Systems: Processing Architectures And Instruction Processing (e.g., Processors), Processing Control, Logic Operation Instruction Processing, Masking The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060026398. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES [0001] This application claims the benefit of European Patent Application No. 04291918.3, filed Jul. 27, 2004, incorporated by reference herein as if reproduced in full below. BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Technical Field [0003] The present subject matter relates generally to processors and more particularly to an executable instruction that copies at least a portion of the contents of a register to a destination register at a programmable location within the destination register. [0004] 2. Background Information [0005] Many types of electronic devices are battery operated and thus preferably consume as little power as possible. An example is a cellular telephone. Further, it may be desirable to implement various types of multimedia functionality in an electronic device such as a cell phone. Examples of multimedia functionality may include, without limitation, games, audio decoders, digital cameras, etc. It is thus desirable to implement such functionality in an electronic device in a way that, all else being equal, is fast, consumes as little power as possible and requires as little memory as possible. Improvements in this area are desirable. BRIEF SUMMARY [0006] In at least one embodiment, a processor executes an instruction that causes a source data field from a programmable position within a first source register to be copied to a destination register. In some embodiments, a system (e.g., a communication device such as cellular telephone) includes a processor capable of executing the instruction as described above. [0007] In another embodiment, a method of executing an instruction is disclosed that comprises examining the instruction to determine a first source register and determining a programmable position within the first source register. The method further comprises copying a source data field from the programmable position within the first source register to a destination register. [0008] In general, the instruction is useful to extract a subset of bits from a register. The subset might represent, for example, a variable. For example, a 32 bit register might contain 9 variables of 3 bits each and one 5-bit variable. The instruction described herein permits the efficient retrieval of each separate variable from the source register. The instruction can be used in some embodiments for processing media-based bitstreams (e.g., audio, video). NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE [0009] Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular system components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, various companies may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms "including" and "comprising" are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean "including, but not limited to." Also, the term "couple" or "couples" is intended to mean either an indirect or direct connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct connection, or through an indirect connection via other devices and connections. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] For a more detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0011] FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a system in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention and including a Java Stack Machine ("JSM") and a Main Processor Unit ("MPU"); [0012] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in the form of a wireless communication device such as a cellular telephone; [0013] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the JSM of FIG. 1 in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention; [0014] FIG. 4 shows various registers used in the JSM; [0015] FIG. 5 shows a function performed by an UNPACK instruction in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention; and [0016] FIGS. 6 and 7 show exemplary formats of the UNPACK instruction in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0017] The following discussion is directed to various embodiments of the invention. Although one or more of these embodiments may be preferred, the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, unless otherwise specified. In addition, one skilled in the art will understand that the following description has broad application, and the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment, and not intended to intimate that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment. [0018] The subject matter disclosed herein is directed to a programmable electronic device such as a processor that executes various instructions including, without limitation, an "UNPACK" instruction. As will be explained in detail below, the UNPACK instruction permits the extraction ("unpacking") of a portion of the data from a bit stream by copying some of the contents of a source register beginning at a designated location to a predetermined location within a destination register (e.g., the lowest significant bits of the destination register). The UNPACK instruction is particularly useful for extracting portions of, for example, media-based bitstreams (e.g., audio, video). The following describes the operation of a preferred embodiment of a processor on which the UNPACK instruction may run. Other processor architectures and embodiments may be available or developed on which to run the instruction and thus this disclosure and the claims which follow are not limited to any particular type of processor. Details regarding the operation and format of the UNPACK instruction follow the description of the processor. Continue reading... Full patent description for Unpack instruction Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Unpack instruction patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Unpack instruction or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Pack instruction Next Patent Application: Information processing unit and store instruction control method Industry Class: Electrical computers and digital processing systems: processing architectures and instruction processing (e.g., processors) ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Unpack instruction patent info. 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