Prediction of instructions in a data processing apparatus

Details Prediction of instructions in a data processing apparatus Prediction of instructions in a data processing apparatus

2006-03-21

2006-03-21

Coleman, Eric (Department: 2183)

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: processing

Instruction fetching

Prefetching

Reexamination Certificate

active

07017030

ABSTRACT:
The present invention provides a data processing apparatus and method for predicting instructions in a data processing apparatus. The data processing apparatus comprises a processor core for executing instructions from any of a plurality of instruction sets, and a prefetch unit for prefetching instructions from a memory prior to sending those instructions to the processor core for execution. Further, prediction logic is used to predict which instructions should be prefetched by the prefetch unit, the prediction logic being arranged to review a prefetched instruction to predict whether execution of that prefetched instruction will cause a change in instruction flow, and if so to indicate to the prefetch unit an address within the memory from which a next instruction should be retrieved. Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, the prediction logic is arranged to predict whether the prefetched instruction will additionally cause a change in instruction set, and if so to cause an instruction set identification signal to be generated for sending to the processor core to indicate the instruction set to which the next instruction belongs. This provides a particularly efficient technique for enabling the processor core to switch between different instruction sets.

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