Fast vector masking algorithm for conditional data selection in SIMD architectures
US8418154B2 · kind B2 · utility
6Cited by
3References
21Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 10, 2009 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/30072
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for generating fast vector masking SIMD code corresponding to source code having a conditional statement, where the SIMD code replaces the conditional statements with vector SIMD operations. One technique includes performing conditional masking using vector operations, bit masking operations, and bitwise logical operations. The need for conditional statements in SIMD code is thereby removed, allowing SIMD hardware to avoid having to use branch prediction. This reduces the number of pipeline stalls and results in increased utilization of the SIMD computational units.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.