Method for executing an instruction loop and a device having instruction loop execution capabilities

A system for executing an instruction loop, the system comprising:

• a fetch unit, configured to fetch instructions from a memory unit;
• a branch prediction unit that is configured to:
• in response to detecting an instruction loop, wherein a size of the instruction loop exceeds a size of a storage space allocated in the fetch unit for storing fetched instructions:
• store, during a first iteration of the instruction loop, first instructions of the instruction loop at a dispatch unit;
• maintain storage of the first instructions at the dispatch unit between the first iteration and a subsequent set of iterations of the instruction loop;
• during the first iteration and the subsequent set of iterations of the instruction loop, request from the fetch unit to fetch instructions of the instruction loop that follow the first instructions of the instruction loop;
• and
• select, during iterations of the instruction loop, whether to provide from a dispatch unit one of the first instructions of the instruction loop or another instruction of the instruction loop that is fetched by the fetch unit;
• wherein the another instruction is not stored at the dispatch unit between the first iteration and the subsequent iterations of the instruction loop.