Apparatus and method for vectorization with speculation support

A method comprising:

• reading each active element in succession from a first vector register, each active element specifying an address for a gather or load operation;
• detecting one or more fault conditions associated with one or more of the active elements;
• for each active element read in succession prior to a detected fault condition on an element other than the first active element, storing data loaded from the address associated with the active element in a first output vector register;
• and
• for each active element associated with the detected fault condition and following the detected fault condition, setting a bit in an output mask register to indicate the detected fault condition.

A computer system comprising:

• a memory for storing program instructions and data;
• a processor to execute one or more of the program instructions to perform the operations of:
• reading each active element in succession from a first vector register, each active element specifying an address for a gather or load operation;
• detecting one or more fault conditions associated with one or more of the active elements;
• for each active element read in succession prior to a detected fault condition on an element other than the first active element, storing the address associated with the active element in a first output vector register;
• and
• for each active element associated with the detected fault condition and following the detected fault condition, setting a bit in an output mask register to indicate the detected fault condition.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for reading each active element in succession from a first vector register, each active element specifying an address for a gather or load operation;
• means for detecting one or more fault conditions associated with one or more of the active elements;
• means for storing data loaded from the address associated with the active element in a first output vector register for each active element read in succession prior to a detected fault condition on an element other than the first active element;
• and
• means for setting a bit in an output mask register to indicate the detected fault condition for each active element associated with the detected fault condition and following the detected fault condition.