Patent · US Active

Return address table branch predictor

US11663126B1 · kind B1 · utility

0Cited by
6References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 23, 2022
Grant dateMay 30, 2023
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 23, 2042

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2212/60
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Embodiments include storing return addresses for a branch-target-buffer. Aspects include receiving a first instruction and based on a determination that the first instruction is a branch instruction and potentially a call, storing a return address associated with the branch instruction in a prediction return address table, wherein the prediction return address table includes an entry that corresponds to an index value that is created based on a target address of the first instruction, and wherein the entry includes the return address that is created based on an address of a sequential instruction of the first instruction. Aspects also include receiving a second instruction and based on a determination that the second instruction is predicted to be a return instruction with a predicted return address table index value from the branch-target-buffer, using the index value to select the return address to predict as the target address.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.