Method and apparatus for performing a vector bit shuffle

Abstract

A processor including a first vector register for storing a plurality of source data elements, a second vector register for storing a plurality of control elements, and a vector bit shuffle logic. Each of the control elements in the first vector register corresponds to a different source data element and includes a plurality of bit fields. Each of the bit fields is associated with a single corresponding bit position in a destination mask register and identifies a single bit from the corresponding source data element to be copied to the single corresponding bit position in the destination mask register. The vector bit shuffle logic is to read the bit fields from the second vector register and, for each bit field, to identify a single bit from a single corresponding source data element and copy it to a single corresponding bit position in the destination mask register.