Patent · US Active

Misalignment predictor

US8171240B1 · kind B1 · utility

1Cited by
7References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 6, 2012
Grant dateMay 1, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 6, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F9/3861
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In one embodiment, a processor comprises a circuit coupled to receive an indication of a memory operation to be executed in the processor. The circuit is configured to predict whether or not the memory operation is misaligned. A number of accesses performed by the processor to execute the memory operation is dependent on whether or not the circuit predicts the memory operation as misaligned. In another embodiment, a misalignment predictor is coupled to receive an indication of a memory operation, and comprises a memory and a control circuit coupled to the memory. The memory is configured to store a plurality of indications of memory operations previously detected as misaligned during execution in a processor. The control circuit is configured to predict whether or not a memory operation is misaligned responsive to a comparison of the received indication and the plurality of indications stored in the memory.

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