Patent ID: 6477640
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A data processing system comprising:an instruction buffer; a completion unit coupled to the instruction buffer; a branch prediction unit coupled to the completion unit and the instruction buffer, the branch prediction unit having a plurality of branch prediction buffers for predicting a plurality of branch instructions; the instruction buffer comprising: a plurality of instruction entries, each instruction entry containing a valid bit; a plurality of stream identifier bits; an instruction; each bit position in the plurality of stream identifier bits associated with a unique one of the plurality of branch prediction buffers; and bit values of the plurality of stream identifier bits defining dependence among instructions contained in the plurality of instruction entries; wherein a first instruction in a first instruction entry is dependent upon a second instruction in a second instruction entry when a first bit position of the plurality of stream identifier bits of the first and second instruction entries contains a first bit value.