Encoded data dependency matrix for power efficiency scheduling

A method comprising:

• storing a first instruction in a buffer for queueing instructions, wherein the first instruction depends on a second instruction in the buffer;
• encoding, using an encoding scheme that reduces a number of bits needed to represent one or more instructions from a set of instructions in the buffer by encoding index locations of the buffer into values, a first dependency indicating that the first instruction depends on the second instruction;
• storing the encoded first dependency in a dependency matrix;
• and
• dispatching the first instruction based at least on decoding one or more dependencies stored in the dependency matrix for the first instruction.

A system comprising:

• a physical memory;
• and
• at least one physical processor comprising:
• a buffer for queueing instructions;
• a dependency matrix for tracking dependencies between instructions in the buffer;
• and
• a control circuit for identifying ready instructions in the buffer using the dependency matrix, the control circuit configured to:
• encode, using an encoding scheme that reduces a number of bits needed to represent one or more instructions from a set of instructions in the buffer by encoding index locations of the buffer into values, a first dependency indicating that a first instruction in the buffer depends on a second instruction in the buffer;
• store the encoded first dependency in the dependency matrix in an index location corresponding to a buffer location of the first instruction in the buffer;
• and
• dispatch the first instruction based at least on decoding one or more dependencies stored in the dependency matrix for the first instruction.