Removing branching paths from a computer program

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for removing branches from a computer program. The system receives code for a computer program, with the code including a number of branches. Each branch is part of a branching path and includes a jump instruction. The system executes the code, and upon encountering a branching path at runtime, the system proceeds with a number of steps. First, the system computes the result of the branch, then prefetches independent instructions outside of the branch to be executed. The system then executes one or more of the prefetched independent instructions and removes an if statement within the jump instruction of the branch at the computed result of the branching path. The system then executes the jump instruction of the branch at the computed result of the branching path.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.