Abstract:
A DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM HAS AN INSTRUCTION UNIT AND AN EXECUTION UNIT. IN PROCESSING A PROGRAM, WHEN A CONDITIONAL BRANCH INSTRUCTION IS ENCOUNTERED AND THE STATUS OF THE CONDITION IS NOT YET RESOLVED, THE SYSTEM OPERATES IN A CONDITIONAL MODE. IN SUCH MODE, A LIMITED NUMBER OF INSTRUCTIONS ARE ISSUED BY THE INSTRUCTION UNIT TO THE EXECUTION UNIT. SHOULD THE TARGET INSTRUCTION BE WITHIN THE LIMITED NUMBER, AND THUS BE CONSIDERED TO INVOLVE A SHORT FORWARD JUMP OR SKIP, IT IS ISSUED ON A NONCANCELLABLE BASIS WHILE INSTRUCTIONS BETWEEN THE BRANCH IN STRUCTION AND THE TARGET INSTRUCTION ARE ISSUED SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION OR EXECUTION IN THE EVENT THE BRANCH IS TAKEN OR IS NOT TAKEN, RESPECTIVELY.