Double-Width Instruction Queue for Instruction Execution
First Claim
1. A method of executing instructions, the method comprising:
- receiving a branch instruction;
issuing instructions for a first path of the branch instruction to a first queue of a dual instruction queue;
issuing instructions for a second path of the branch instruction to a second queue of a dual instruction queue;
determining if the branch instruction follows the first path or the second path;
upon determining that the branch instruction follows the first path, providing instructions for the first path from the first queue to a first execution unit; and
upon determining that the branch instruction follows the second path, providing instructions for the second path from the second queue to the first execution unit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for executing branch instructions is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a branch instruction, issuing instructions for a first path of the branch instruction to a first queue of a dual instruction queue, and issuing instructions for a second path of the branch instruction to a second queue of a dual instruction queue. The method further includes determining if the branch instruction follows the first path or the second path. Upon determining that the branch instruction follows the first path, the instructions for the first path are provided from the first queue are provided to a first execution unit. Upon determining that the branch instruction follows the second path, instructions for the second path are provided from the second queue to the first execution unit.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of executing instructions, the method comprising:
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receiving a branch instruction; issuing instructions for a first path of the branch instruction to a first queue of a dual instruction queue; issuing instructions for a second path of the branch instruction to a second queue of a dual instruction queue; determining if the branch instruction follows the first path or the second path; upon determining that the branch instruction follows the first path, providing instructions for the first path from the first queue to a first execution unit; and upon determining that the branch instruction follows the second path, providing instructions for the second path from the second queue to the first execution unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A processor comprising:
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a cache; a dual instruction queue comprising a first queue and a second queue; a first execution unit; and circuitry configured to” receive a branch instruction; issue instructions for a first path of the branch instruction to the first queue of a dual instruction queue; issue instructions for a second path of the branch instruction to a second queue of a dual instruction queue; determine if the branch instruction follows the first path or the second path; upon determining that the branch instruction follows the first path, provide the instructions for the first path from the first queue to a first execution unit; and upon determining that the branch instruction follows the second path, provide the instructions for the second path from the second queue to the first execution unit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A processor comprising:
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an execution unit; a dual instruction queue comprising a first queue and a second queue; issue circuitry configured to; issue instructions for a first path of a branch instruction to the first queue of the dual instruction queue; and issue instructions for a second path of the branch instruction to the second queue of the dual instruction queue;
branch execution circuitry configured to;determine if the branch instruction follows the first path or the second path of the branch instruction; upon determining that the branch instruction follows the first path, provide a first selection signal; and upon determining that the branch instruction follows the second path, provide a second selection signal; and selection circuitry configured to; provide the instructions for the first path from the first queue to the execution unit upon detecting the first selection signal; and provide the instructions for the second path from the second queue to the execution unit upon detecting the second selection signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification