Instruction cache behavior and branch prediction

US11487542B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Yang Liu · Shanghai, CN
• Ting Wang · White Plains, US
• Qi Cheng Li · Beijing, CN
• Qing Feng Zhang · Beijing, CN
• Gui HaoChen · Shanghai, CN
• Xiao Guo · Beijing, CN
• Xiao Hua Zeng · Shanghai, CN
• Yangming Wang · Shanghai, CN
• Yi Li · Fremont, US
• Hua Li · Beijing, CN
• Fei Fei · Shanghai, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 20, 2020
• Grant date: Nov 1, 2022
• Expiry date: Jul 20, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F2212/452
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Instruction cache behavior and branch prediction are used to improve the functionality of a computing device by profiling branching instructions in an instruction cache to identify likelihoods of proceeding to a plurality of targets from the branching instructions; identifying a hot path in the instruction cache based on the identified likelihoods; and rearranging the plurality of targets relative to one another and associated branching instructions so that a first branching instruction that has a higher likelihood of proceeding to a first hot target than to a first cold target and that previously flowed to the first cold target and jumped to the first hot target instead flows to the first hot target and jumps to the first cold target.