Branch markers for rapidly identifying branch predictions

Details Branch markers for rapidly identifying branch predictions Branch markers for rapidly identifying branch predictions

2005-02-08

2005-02-08

Treat, William M. (Department: 2183)

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: processing

Processing control

Branching

Reexamination Certificate

active

06854050

ABSTRACT:
A method and mechanism for performing branch prediction. A processor is configured with a branch prediction cache which is configured to store branch prediction information corresponding to a group of instructions. Branch marker bits are stored, each of which correspond to a different byte range of a group of instruction bytes. Each branch marker bit provides an indication as to whether or not a predicted branch instruction ends within the corresponding byte range. In response to receiving a fetch address, a corresponding branch marker bit is selected. A determination is made as to whether the selected bit indicates the presence of a predicted branch instruction. A plurality of branch prediction information entries are also maintained. If the selected branch marker bit indicates a predicted branch, the position of the selected branch marker bit relative to other branch marker bits may be used to select a corresponding entry from the branch prediction information entries.

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