Selective postponement of branch target buffer (BTB) allocation

Details Selective postponement of branch target buffer (BTB) allocation Selective postponement of branch target buffer (BTB) allocation

2011-02-22

2011-02-22

Pan, Daniel (Department: 2183)

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: processing

Processing control

Branching

C712S240000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07895422

ABSTRACT:
A system and method provides branch target buffer (BTB) allocation. When a branch instruction is received, a branch target address that corresponds to the branch instruction is determined. A determination is made whether the branch target address is presently stored in a branch target buffer (BTB). When the branch target address is not presently stored in the branch target buffer, an entry in the branch target buffer is identified to receive the branch target address. A value in a field within the identified entry in the branch target buffer, such as a postponement flag (PF), is used to selectively override a replacement decision defined by predetermined branch target buffer allocation criteria. In one form, if a branch is taken, the identified entry is replaced with the branch target address in response to determining that the value in the field within the identified entry has a predetermined value.

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