Multiple condition code branching system in a multi-processor environment

Claim 1

A data processing system having at least two processing elements, comprising: means for controlling asynchronous parallel operation of said plurality of processing elements; a shared memory system, coupled to said plurality of processing elements, for storing instructions and data required for operation of each of said processing elements; one or more registers, each register having one or more fields, denominated as a predicate field, each of said predicate fields being associated with one of said processing elements; means for comparing a plurality of branch condition signals from a plurality of said processing elements with said predicate fields to generate a plurality of individual branch test signals; and logic means for applying a logic mask associated with each of said processing elements to said individual branch test signals to produce a branch decision signal which is acted upon based on a single instruction.

Claim 5

A method, for providing in a single instruction execution, a branch instruction which operates on multiple condition codes, in a data processing system having a plurality of asynchronously operating processing elements, comprising the steps of: storing, in one or more registers, a plurality of predicate fields, each said predicate field being associated with one of said processing elements; comparing a plurality of branch condition signals from a plurality of said processing elements with said predicate fields to produce individual branch test signals; and gating said individual branch test signals against a plurality of logic mask signals to produce a branch decision signal which is acted upon based on a single instruction.

Claim 6

A method, for providing in a single instruction execution, a branch instruction which operates on multiple condition codes, in a data processing system having a plurality of asynchronously operating processing elements, comprising the steps of: storing, in one or more registers, a plurality of predicate fields, each said predicate field being associated with one of said processing elements; comparing a plurality of branch condition signals from a plurality of said processing elements with said predicate fields to produce individual branch test signals; and gating said individual branch test signals against a plurality of logic mask signals to produce a branch decision signal which is acted upon based on a single instruction.

Claim 8

A method of controlling a conditional branch instruction for a branch in program execution on the occurrence of one or more predetermined branch condition signals from one or more processing elements of a plurality of processing elements in a data processing system, comprising the steps of: providing a first field containing an operation code for an instruction to be executed; providing a second field containing values indicative of one processing element of said plurality of processing elements and associating a mode of operation with a predicate contained in a predicate field of said instruction; providing one or more registers, each such register having one or more predicate fields, each predicate field containing predicate data associated with one of said processing elements; comparing a plurality of branch condition signals asynchronously generated by said processing elements with said predicate data to generate individual branch test signals, each associated with one of said processing elements; and applying a predetermined logic mask to said individual branch test signals to generate a branch decision signal which is acted upon based on a single instruction.

Claim 9

A method of controlling a conditional branch instruction for a branch in program execution on the occurrence of one or more predetermined branch condition signals from one or more processing elements of a plurality of processing elements in a data processing system, comprising the steps of: providing a first field containing an operation code for an instruction to be executed; providing a second field containing values indicative of one processing element of said plurality of processing elements and associating a mode of operation with a predicate contained in a predicate field of said instruction; providing one or more registers, each such register having one or more predicate fields, each predicate field containing predicate data associated with one of said processing elements; comparing a plurality of branch condition signals asynchronously generated by said processing elements with said predicate data to generate individual branch test signals, each associated with one of said processing elements; and applying a predetermined logic mask to said individual branch test signals to generate a branch decision signal which is acted upon based on a single instruction.

Claim 11

A method of controlling a conditional branch instruction for on the occurrence of one or more predetermined branch condition signals generated asynchronously from one or more processing elements of a plurality of processing elements in a data processing system, comprising: providing a first field containing an operation code for an instruction to be executed if the branch is to executed; providing a displacement field containing address information associated with said instruction; providing a plurality of multiple predicate registers on a one to one basis with said plurality of processing elements, for storing a plurality of predicates, each predicate in said register being associated with one of said processing elements; comparing a plurality of branch condition signals asynchronously generated by said processing elements with said predicate data to generate individual branch test signals, each associated with one of said processing elements; and applying a predetermined logic mask to said individual branch test signals to generate a branch decision signal which is acted upon based on a single instruction.

Claim 12

A method of controlling a conditional branch instruction for on the occurrence of one or more predetermined branch condition signals generated asynchronously from one or more processing elements of a plurality of processing elements in a data processing system, comprising: providing a first field containing an operation code for an instruction to be executed if the branch is to executed; providing a displacement field containing address information associated with said instruction; providing a plurality of multiple predicate registers on a one to one basis with said plurality of processing elements, for storing a plurality of predicates, each predicate in said register being associated with one of said processing elements; comparing a plurality of branch condition signals asynchronously generated by said processing elements with said predicate data to generate individual branch test signals, each associated with one of said processing elements; and applying a predetermined logic mask to said individual branch test signals to generate a branch decision signal which is acted upon based on a single instruction.