Method and system for testing millicode branch points

A pipelined computer processing system for testing branch points encountered during execution of a millicode routine for use in reducing the number of branch instructions required to test combinations of millicode branch points, wherein said testing includes a TMBP instruction, comprising a pipelined computer processor for:

• interrogating a millicode condition code;
• interrogating a first field of said TMBP instruction, wherein results of said interrogating determine a logical function to be performed on said millicode condition code, and wherein further said first field comprises four bits;
• interrogating a second field of said TMBP instruction, said second field specifying a first millicode branch point;
• interrogating a third field of said TMBP instruction, said third field specifying a second millicode branch point;
• and
• setting said millicode condition code by system hardware based upon results of said interrogating, wherein said setting said milli-code condition code determines how said millicode routine executes subsequent TMBP instructions and conditional branch instructions.

A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for testing branch points encountered during execution of a millicode routine for use in reducing the number of branch instructions required to test combinations of millicode branch points, wherein said testing includes a TMBP instruction, the storage medium including instructions for causing a computer to implement a method comprising:

• interrogating a millicode condition code;
• interrogating a first field of said TMBP instruction, wherein results of said interrogating determine a logical function to be performed on said millicode condition code, and wherein further said first field comprises four bits;
• interrogating a second field of said TMBP instruction, said second field specifying a first millicode branch point;
• interrogating a third field of said TMBP instruction, said third field specifying a second millicode branch point;
• and
• setting said millicode condition code by system hardware based upon results of said interrogating, wherein said setting said millicode condition code determines how said millicode routine executes subsequent TMBP instructions and conditional branch instructions.