Branch predictor search qualification using stream length prediction
US10394559B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 13, 2016 |
| Grant date | Aug 27, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 13, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/3848
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer-implemented method includes determining, by a stream-based index accelerator predictor of a processor, a predicted stream length between an instruction address and a taken branch ending an instruction stream. A first-level branch predictor of a hierarchical asynchronous lookahead branch predictor of the processor is searched for a branch prediction in one or more entries in a search range bounded by the instruction address and the predicted stream length. A search of a second-level branch predictor of the hierarchical asynchronous lookahead branch predictor is triggered based on failing to locate the branch prediction in the search range.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.