Fast execution of branch instruction with multiple conditional expressions using programmable branch offset table
US8078849B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 2008 |
| Grant date | Dec 13, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 7, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/3885
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a programmable table which allows software to define a plurality of branching functions, each of which maps a vector of condition codes to a branch offset. This technique allows for a flexible multi-way branching functionality, using a conditional branch outcome table that can be specified by a programmer. Any instruction can specify the evaluation of arbitrary conditional expressions to compute the values for the condition codes, and can choose a particular branching function. When the processor executes the instruction, the processor's arithmetic/logical functional units evaluate the conditional expressions and then the processor performs the branch operation, according to the specified branching function.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.