Return address stack recovery in a speculative execution computing apparatus
US7836290B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 28, 2006 |
| Grant date | Nov 16, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 28, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/3867
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A technique recovers return address stack (RAS) content and restores alignment of a RAS top-of-stack (TOS) pointer for occurrences of mispredictions due to speculative operation, out-of-order instruction processing, and exception handling. In at least one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus includes a speculative execution processor pipeline, a first structure for maintaining return addresses relative to instruction flow at a first stage of the pipeline, at least a second structure for maintaining return addresses relative to instruction flow at a second stage of the pipeline. The second stage of the pipeline is deeper in the pipeline than the first stage. The apparatus includes circuitry operable to reproduce at least return addresses from the second structure to the first structure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.