Misprediction of predicted taken branches in a data processing apparatus
US11086629B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 9, 2018 |
| Grant date | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 16, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/3861
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus and a method of operating the same is disclosed. Instruction fetch circuitry is provided to fetch a block of instructions from memory and branch prediction circuitry to generate branch prediction indications for each branch instruction present in the block of instructions. The branch prediction circuitry is responsive to identification of a first conditional branch instruction in the block of instructions that is predicted to be taken to modify a branch prediction indication generated for the first conditional branch instruction to include a subsequent branch status indicator. When there is a subsequent branch instruction after the first conditional branch instruction in the block of instructions that is predicted to be taken the subsequent branch status indicator has a first value, and otherwise the subsequent branch status indicator has a second value. This supports improved handling of a misprediction as taken.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.