Instruction encoding
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics (R&D) Ltd.
InventorZahid Hussain
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A processor and a method for executing VLIW instructions by first fetching a VLIW instruction and then identifying from option bits encoded in a first one of the instructions within the fetched VLIW instruction packet which, if any, of the remaining instructions within the VLIW instruction are to be executed in the same execution cycle as the first instruction. Finally, executing the first instruction and any remaining instructions identified from the encoded option bits.
Claims12
A method for executing instruction packets on a computer where each instruction packet comprises a plurality of instructions, said method comprising the following steps:
- fetching an instruction packet;
- identifying from option bits encoded in a first one of said plurality of instructions of said fetched instruction packet which, if any, of the remaining instructions within said packet are to be executed in the same execution cycle as the first instruction;
- and
- executing said first instruction and any said remaining instructions identified from the encoded option bits.
A processor having a plurality of pipelines each capable of executing instruction packets where each instruction packet comprises a plurality of instructions and said pipeline comprises:
- an instruction fetch stage for fetching an instruction packet;
- circuitry for identifying from option bits encoded in a first one of said plurality of instructions of said fetched instruction packet which, if any, of the remaining instructions within said packet are to be executed in the same execution cycle as the first instruction;
- and
- an execution stage for executing said first instruction and any said remaining instructions identified from the encoded option bits.
A method of executing a computer program on a computer to process three dimensional graphics data, the program having instruction packets each comprising a plurality of instructions comprising at least a first floating point instruction, the method comprising determining from option bits encoded in said first instruction which, if any, of the remaining instructions within said instruction packet are to be executed in the same execution cycle as said first instruction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.