Method and apparatus for performing a mask-driven interval multiplication operation

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for performing a mask-driven multiplication operation between arithmetic intervals within a computer system, the method comprising:

• receiving interval operands, including a first interval and a second interval, to be multiplied together to produce a resulting interval;
• determining relationships between the interval operands and zero;
• creating a mask based upon the relationships;
• and
• performing a multi-way branch based upon the mask, so that an execution flow of a program performing the multiplication is directed to code that is tailored to compute the resulting interval for specific relationships between the interval operands and zero.

An apparatus that performs a mask-driven multiplication operation between arithmetic intervals within a computer system, comprising:

• a receiving mechanism that is configured to receive interval operands, including a first interval and a second interval, to be multiplied together to produce a resulting interval;
• a determining mechanism that is configured to determine relationships between the interval operands and zero;
• a mask creation mechanism that is configured to create a mask based upon the relationships;
• and
• a branching mechanism that is configured to perform a multi-way branch based upon the mask, so that an execution flow of a program performing the multiplication is directed to code that is tailored to compute the resulting interval for specific relationships between the interval operands and zero.

A method for compiling code to perform a multiplication operation between interval operands to produce a resulting interval, comprising:

• receiving source code for an application within a compiler;
• wherein the source code contains an interval multiplication operation with interval operands, including a first interval and a second interval, to be multiplied together to produce the resulting interval;
• and
• creating executable code for the multiplication operation that,
• determines relationships between the interval operands and zero;
• creates a mask based upon the relationships, and
• performs a multi-way branch based upon the mask, so that an execution flow of a program performing the multiplication is directed to code that is tailored to compute the resulting interval for specific relationships between the interval operands and zero.

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for compiling code to perform a multiplication operation between interval operands to produce a resulting interval, the method comprising:

• receiving source code for an application within a compiler;
• wherein the source code contains an interval multiplication operation with interval operands, including a first interval and a second interval, to be multiplied together to produce the resulting interval;
• and
• creating executable code for the multiplication operation that,
• determines relationships between the interval operands and zero;
• creates a mask based upon the relationships, and
• performs a multi-way branch based upon the mask, so that an execution flow of a program performing the multiplication is directed to code that is tailored to compute the resulting interval for specific relationships between the interval operands and zero.