Method and system for optimizing the fetching of dispatch groups in a superscalar processor

A method for determining if a dispatch slot is required in a processing system comprising:

• providing a plurality of predecode bits, the plurality of predecode bits provided as a four bit branch, split, first and last (BSFL) code, to provide routing information;
• and
• utilizing predcode bits to allow instructions to be directed to specific decode slots and to obey dispatch constraints without examining the instruction.

A method for determining if a dispatch slot is required in a processing system comprising:

• providing a plurality of predecode bits, the plurality of predecode bits provided as a four bit branch, split, first and last (BSFL) code to provide routing information, each bit of the four bit BSFL code mapped to a particular type of instruction;
• and
• utilizing the predecode bits to allow instructions to be directed to specific decode slots and to obey dispatch constraints without examining the instruction.