DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM HAVING INSTRUCTION FOLDING AND METHOD THEREOF

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to data processing systems having instruction folding and methods for controlling execution of a program loop. One embodiment includes detecting execution of a program loop and prefetching data in response to detecting execution of the program loop. Another embodiment includes detecting execution of a program loop and scanning the program loop for remote independent instructions or data dependencies during at least one iteration. Another embodiment includes detecting execution of a program loop and storing intra-loop data dependency information in a dependency bit vector, and using the dependency bit vector to select at least one local independent instruction available for folding. One embodiment includes an instruction folding unit comprising a first controller, a second controller, and a storage unit coupled to the second controller. Another embodiment includes a data processing system comprising a validation counter and a storage unit coupled to the validation counter where the storage unit includes a dependency bit vector corresponding to instructions of a program loop.