Speculative writes to special-purpose register
US10838723B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 27, 2019 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 17, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/3863
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Techniques are disclosed relating to speculative writes to special-purpose registers (SPRs). In some embodiments, the disclosed techniques may reduce or avoid system instruction stalls while waiting for SPR writes, which may improve processor performance. In some embodiments, a processor includes a first storage element configured to store a non-speculative value of a special-purpose register and speculative storage circuitry configured to store one or more speculative values of the special-purpose register based on one or more speculatively-performed writes to the special-purpose register. In some embodiments, the processor includes control circuitry configured to: propagate the non-speculative value of the special-purpose register to control other circuitry and provide a youngest speculative value of the special-purpose register in the speculative storage circuitry as a speculative read of the special-purpose register.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.