Return address stack recovery in a speculative execution...

Details Return address stack recovery in a speculative execution... Return address stack recovery in a speculative execution...

2006-02-28

2010-11-16

Petranek, Jacob (Department: 2183)

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: processing

Processing control

Branching

Reexamination Certificate

active

07836290

ABSTRACT:
A technique recovers return address stack (RAS) content and restores alignment of a RAS top-of-stack (TOS) pointer for occurrences of mispredictions due to speculative operation, out-of-order instruction processing, and exception handling. In at least one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus includes a speculative execution processor pipeline, a first structure for maintaining return addresses relative to instruction flow at a first stage of the pipeline, at least a second structure for maintaining return addresses relative to instruction flow at a second stage of the pipeline. The second stage of the pipeline is deeper in the pipeline than the first stage. The apparatus includes circuitry operable to reproduce at least return addresses from the second structure to the first structure.

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