Program-controlled unit e.g. for microprocessors or microcontrollers - has return-address store for holding addresses of commands to be carried out by commands leading to continuation of processing of command sequence

摘要

A program-controlled unit with pre-fetch unit (PFE) which reads data representing commands from a program-store (PS), extracts the commands contained therein, and prepares for collecting via a unit (ABE) which is further processing the commands. The commands are searched by commands, whose execution results or can result in a jump/branch, and forecasts for the commands which are thus found, whether their execution results in a jump/branch or not, and depending on the forecast result are further processed, so that after a command which leads to, or can lead to, a jump/branch, that command for collection by the unit which is further processing the commands, is made ready, and the known forecast is carried out. A return address-storage device (RS) is provided for storage of the addresses of commands which are to be carried out by commands, which lead to the continuation of processing of a command sequence, which is temporarily interrupted by the execution of other commands.