US 6,611,910 B2 · Method for processing branch operations

Abstract

A branch operation is processed using a branch predict instruction and an associated branch instruction. The branch predict instruction indicates a predicted direction, a target address, and an instruction address for the associated branch instruction. When the branch predict instruction is detected, the target address is stored at an entry indicated by the associated branch instruction address and a prefetch request is triggered to the target address. The branch predict instruction may also include hint information for managing the storage and use of the branch prediction information.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for processing branch operations comprising:

detecting a branch predict instruction that indicates a target address and a branch instruction address associated with the target address;
and
storing the target address at an entry of a branch prediction structure indicated by the associated branch instruction address.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/169,868Filed 12 Oct 1998

Published

US 2002/0095566 A118 Jul 2002

Granted

26 Aug 2003

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G06F 9/3806
For branches, e.g. hedging, branch folding: using address prediction, e.g. return stack, branch history buffer
G06F 9/322
Address formation of the next instruction, e.g. by incrementing the instruction counter: for non-sequential address
G06F 9/323
For non-sequential address: for indirect branch instructions
G06F 9/325
For non-sequential address: for loops, e.g. loop detection or loop counter

Method for processing branch operations

Life of this patent

Method for processing branch operations

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15