I might call that the Transmeta approach. Back in the early 2000s, Transmeta offered x86-compatible systems that ran a proprietary VLIW core with software trans

I might call that the Transmeta approach. Back in the early 2000s, Transmeta offered x86-compatible systems that ran a proprietary VLIW core with software translation. The resulting system looked like an x86 system to the OS and was more power-efficient than contemporary x86 systems from other vendors. Intel has a perpetual license for all Transmeta patents and applications.