Lsi Logic Corporation

Verisilicon Holdings (cayman Islands) Co. Ltd.

Senthil K Subramanian

Hung Thanh Nguyen

A system, circuit, and method are presented for evaluating conditional execution instructions. The system, circuit, and method are adapted to receive an identification instruction comprising the size and the condition of execution of a block of conditional execution instructions. The system, circuit, and method may also be coupled to determine a position and for a conditional execution instruction within a block of conditional execution instructions. The system, circuit, and method can determine whether a conditional field, in which the conditional field comprises a type of conditional execution instruction, meets a condition of execution. By determining the size of the block of conditional execution by an identification instruction and determining the type of conditional execution instruction, the system, circuit and method advantageously decreases the code density of a set of instruction, and advantageously increases the overall performance of a processor.

System and method for evaluating and efficiently executing conditional instructions

A processor is disclosed including a register, functional unit(s), and a control unit. The register stores multiple bits, wherein one or more of the bits has a value representing a current electrical power dissipation mode (i.e., power mode) of the processor. The functional unit(s) respond to the power mode signal by altering their electrical power dissipation and issuing an acknowledge signal. The control unit receives a power mode input representing a request to enter a new power mode, and issues the power mode signal in response. The control unit waits for the acknowledge signal(s), and responds to the acknowledge signal(s) by modifying the one or more bits of the register to reflect the new power mode. A method is described for transitioning from a current power mode to a new power mode. A data processing system is disclosed including a peripheral device coupled to the processor.

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Richardson, TX, United States of America

Senthil K Subramanian