Patent ID: 7761694

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving a first packed data operand and a second packed data operand in a common execution unit that can process shuffle instructions and shift instructions; and manipulating the first packed data operand and the second packed data operand in the common execution unit having a plurality of independent data paths each to receive the first packed data operand and the second packed data operand responsive to a first instruction to generate an output according to local control signals of a local controller of the common execution unit, including providing the first packed data operand and a first portion of the second packed data operand to first multiplexers of a first selector level of a first independent data path of the common execution unit, providing a first portion of the first packed data operand and a second portion of the second packed data operand to second multiplexers of the first selector level of the first independent data path, providing the first portion of the first packed data operand and the second portion of the second packed data operand to second multiplexers of a first selector level of a second independent data path of the common execution unit, and providing a second portion of the first packed data operand and the second packed data operand to first multiplexers of the first selector level of the second independent data path, and selecting an output of the first selector level of the first and second independent data paths including selected portions of the first and second packed data operands based on a type of the first instruction.