Array having an update circuit for updating a storage location with a value stored in another storage location
US5687110A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 20, 1996 |
| Grant date | Nov 11, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 20, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/3863
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A memory including first storage circuits for storing first values and second storages circuit for storing second values is provided. The first value may be retired branch prediction information, while the second value may be speculative branch prediction information. The speculative branch prediction information is updated when the corresponding instructions are fetched, and the retired branch prediction value is updated when the corresponding branch instruction is retired. The speculative branch prediction information is used to form branch predictions. Therefore, the speculatively fetched and executed branches influence subsequent branch predictions. Upon detection of a mispredicted branch or an instruction which causes an exception, the speculative branch prediction information is updated to the corresponding retired branch prediction information. An update circuit is coupled between the first and second storage circuits for transmitting the updated information upon assertion of a control signal. The control signal may be asserted to cause the update of each speculative branch prediction by the corresponding retired branch prediction. The updates occur substantially simultaneou…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.