Fractional use of prediction history storage for operating system routines
US9891918B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 26, 2015 |
| Grant date | Feb 13, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 15, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2212/1028
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A microprocessor includes a predicting unit having storage for holding a prediction history of characteristics of instructions previously executed by the microprocessor. The predicting unit accumulates the prediction history and uses the prediction history to make predictions related to subsequent instruction executions. The storage comprises a plurality of portions separately controllable for accumulating the prediction history. The microprocessor also includes a control unit that detects the microprocessor is running an operating system routine and controls the predicting unit to use only a fraction of the plurality of portions of the storage to accumulate the prediction history while the microprocessor is running the operating system routine.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.