Method for maintaining a branch prediction history table

US10430194B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Wolfgang Gellerich · Eppelheim, DE
• Peter M. Held · Renningen, DE
• Martin Schwidefsky · Eppelheim, DE
• Chung-Lung K. Shum · Wappingers Falls, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 10, 2016
• Grant date: Oct 1, 2019
• Expiry date: Sep 13, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F9/4881
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method for managing tasks in a computer system comprising a processor and a memory, the method includes performing a first task by the processor, the first task comprising task-relating branch instructions and task-independent branch instructions and executing the branch prediction method, the execution resulting in task-relating branch prediction data in the branch prediction history table. In response to determining that the first task is to be interrupted or terminated, the method includes storing the task-relating branch prediction data of the first task in the task structure of the first task. In response to determining that a second task is to be continued, the method includes reading task-relating branch prediction data of the second task from the task structure of the second task, storing the task-relating branch prediction data of the second task in the branch prediction history table, and ensuring that task-independent branch prediction data is maintained.