System for target branch prediction using correlation of local target histories including update inhibition for inefficient entries
US7434037B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 7, 2006 |
| Grant date | Oct 7, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 28, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/3848
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An information processing system includes a branch target buffer (BTB) comprising the last next address for the instruction and for receiving an indirect instruction address and providing a BTB predicted target; and next branch target table (NBTT) for storing potential branch targets based on a history of the branch and for providing an NBTT when the a BTB predicted target is not successful. In another embodiment a system comprising a plurality of branch prediction resources dynamically predicts the best resource appropriate for a branch. The method includes predicting a target branch for an indirect instruction address using a resource chosen among the plurality of branch prediction resources; and selectively inhibiting updates of the branch prediction resources whose prediction accuracy does not meet a threshold.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.