Importance

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Abstract

The invention provides a method and apparatus for storing complex data in formats which allow efficient complex multiplication operations to be performed and for performing such complex multiplication operations. According to one aspect of the invention, a method for multiplying complex numbers is provided for use in a data processing system. In response to receiving an instruction, eight data elements are read and used to generate a resulting complex number. These eight data elements were previously stored as packed data and include two representations of each of the components of a first and second complex number. Each of these representations is signed such that it represents either the positive or negative of said component. As a result of the manner in which these eight data elements are stored, the resulting complex number represents the product of the first and second complex numbers. According to another aspect of the invention, a machine-readable medium is described. This machine-readable medium has stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause that processor to perform the above described method.

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First Claim