Electrical computers and digital processing systems: processing – Processing control – Branching
Patent
1997-10-24
1999-11-02
Maung, Zarni
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: processing
Processing control
Branching
G06F 938
Patent
active
059789069
ABSTRACT:
A branch prediction unit stores a set of branch selectors corresponding to each of a group of contiguous instruction bytes stored in an instruction cache. Each branch selector identifies the branch prediction to be selected if a fetch address corresponding to that branch selector is presented. In order to minimize the number of branch selectors stored for a group of contiguous instruction bytes, the group is divided into multiple byte ranges. The largest byte range may include a number of bytes comprising the shortest branch instruction in the instruction set (exclusive of the return instruction). For example, the shortest branch instruction may be two bytes in one embodiment. Therefore, the largest byte range is two bytes in the example. Since the branch selectors as a group change value (i.e. indicate a different branch instruction) only at the end byte of a predicted-taken branch instruction, fewer branch selectors may be stored than the number of bytes within the group.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4044338 (1977-08-01), Wolf
patent: 4179737 (1979-12-01), Kim
patent: 4453212 (1984-06-01), Gaither et al.
patent: 4807115 (1989-02-01), Torng
patent: 4858105 (1989-08-01), Kuriyama et al.
patent: 4860197 (1989-08-01), Langendorf et al.
patent: 4928223 (1990-05-01), Dao et al.
patent: 5053631 (1991-10-01), Perlman et al.
patent: 5058048 (1991-10-01), Gupta et al.
patent: 5129067 (1992-07-01), Johnson
patent: 5136697 (1992-08-01), Johnson
patent: 5142634 (1992-08-01), Fite et al.
patent: 5226126 (1993-07-01), McFarland et al.
patent: 5226130 (1993-07-01), Favor et al.
patent: 5235697 (1993-08-01), Steely, Jr. et al.
patent: 5381533 (1995-01-01), Peleg et al.
patent: 5418922 (1995-05-01), Liu
patent: 5454117 (1995-09-01), Puziol et al.
patent: 5553254 (1996-09-01), Berstis et al.
patent: 5592634 (1997-01-01), Circello et al.
patent: 5649137 (1997-07-01), Favor et al.
patent: 5649178 (1997-07-01), Blaner et al.
patent: 5708803 (1998-01-01), Ishimi et al.
patent: 5737590 (1998-04-01), Hara
patent: 5758142 (1998-05-01), McFarling et al.
patent: 5764946 (1998-06-01), Tran et al.
patent: 5794028 (1998-08-01), Tran
patent: 5822575 (1998-10-01), Tran
Calder, et al, "Next Cache Line and Set Prediction," Department of computer Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, Co, 8345 Architecture News, 23(1995) May, No. 2, New York, pp. 287-296.
Young, et al, "An Intelligent I-Cache Prefetch Mechanism" Proceedings of the International Conference on Computer Design: VLSI In Computers and Processors, Cambridge, Ma., Oct. 3-6, 1993, pp. 44-49.
International Search Report for PCT/US 98/12383 dated Nov. 5, 1998.
Intel, "Chapter 2: Microprocessor Architecture Overview," pp. 2-1 through 2-4.
Michael Slater, "AMD's K5 Designed to Outrun Pentium," Microprocessor Report, vol. 8, No. 14, Oct. 24, 1994, 7 pages.
Sebastian, Rupley and John Clyman, "P6: The Next Step?," PC Magazine, Sep. 12, 1995, 16 pages.
Tom R. Halfhill, "AMD K6 Takes on Intel P6," BYTE, Jan. 1996, 4 pages.
U.S. Application Serial No. 08/752,691.
U.S. Application Serial No. 08/481,914.
U.S. Application Serial No. 08/472,249.
U.S. Application Serial No. 08/819,109.
U.S. Application Serial No. 08/472,665.
U.S. Application Serial No. 08/550,296.
U.S. Application Serial No. 08/570,242.
U.S. Application Serial No. 08/713,287.
U.S. Application Serial No. 08/731,765.
U.S. Application Serial No. 08/752,691.
U.S. Application Serial No. 08/713,499.
Advanced Micro Devices , Inc.
Coulter Kenneth R.
Kivlin B. Noel
Maung Zarni
Merkel Lawrence J.
LandOfFree
Branch selectors associated with byte ranges within an instructi does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Branch selectors associated with byte ranges within an instructi, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Branch selectors associated with byte ranges within an instructi will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2150884