Virtual image processor instruction set architecture (ISA) and memory model and exemplary target hardware having a two-dimensional shift array structure

Abstract

A method is described that includes instantiating, within an application software development environment, a virtual processor having an instruction set architecture and memory model that contemplatefirst and second regions of reserved memory. The first reserved region is to keep data of an input image array. The second reserved region is to keep data of an output image array. The method also includes simulating execution of a memory load instruction of the instruction set architecture by automatically targeting the first reserved region and identifying desired input data with first and second coordinates relative to the virtual processor's position within an orthogonal coordinate system and expressed in the instruction format of the memory load instruction.

Description

technical field [0001] The field of the invention relates generally to image processing, and more particularly to exemplary target hardware for instruction set architecture (ISA) and memory models and having a two-dimensional shift array structure for image processing in virtualization. Background technique [0002] Image processing generally involves manipulating pixel values ​​organized into arrays. Here, the spatially organized two-dimensional array captures the two-dimensional nature of the image (additional dimensions may include time (eg, sequence of two-dimensional images) and data type (eg, color)). In typical scenarios, arrayed pixel values ​​are provided by cameras that generate still images or frame sequences to capture images in motion. Traditional image processors typically fall into one of two extremes. [0003] The first extreme performs image processing tasks as a software program executing on a general-purpose processor or general-purpose processor (eg, a ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, using custom-designed fixed-function circuits often results in a processor that can only perform a limited set of tasks

Thus, in the second extreme there is a lack of a broadly general programming environment (which is associated with the first extreme)

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