Method and apparatus for predicting loop exit branches
US6438682B1 · kind B1 · utility
11Cited by
1References
23Claims
0Family size
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Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 12, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 20, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 12, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/325
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A loop branch prediction system is provided to predict a final iteration of a loop and resteer an associated fetch module to an appropriate target address. The loop prediction system includes a counter and an end of loop (EOL) module. In one mode, the counter tracks loop branches in process. When a termination condition is detected, the counter switches to a second mode to track the number of loop branches still to be issued. The EOL module compares the number of loop branches still to be issued with one or more threshold values and generates a resteer signal when a match is detected.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.