SAM: a data path allocation system

A data path allocation system called SAM (simultaneous allocation by merging) is described. It exploits the tradeoff between the mapping from variables to registers and from operations to function units to reduce the amount of interconnection. It also exploits the tradeoff among the number of function units, the number of registers, and the amount of interconnection to minimize the total cost of data path. The latter feature is unique to the SAM system. This flexibility allows the SAM system to produce good data paths. Experimental results of the SAM system are given