Douglas Robert Logan

Title: Douglas Robert Logan: Processor and Data-Processing Innovations.

Introduction

Douglas Robert Logan is an inventor associated with Austin, Texas, and IBM. His work includes processor architecture and techniques for improving instruction fetching and branch prediction. He is credited with 4 patents.

Latest Patents

- Data processing system, processor and method of data processing having improved branch target address cache. This invention describes a branch target address cache that uses a filter buffer to hold candidate branch-target predictions and track confidence in their accuracy. Predictions are promoted to the branch target buffer according to their confidence, helping guide instruction fetching.

- Adaptive fetch gating in multithreaded processors, fetch control and method of controlling fetches. This invention monitors processor events and pipeline conditions to identify threads that cannot use fetched instructions, such as threads that are stalled or have full pipelines. By skipping unnecessary instruction-cache fetches and adapting fetch selection, the approach can reduce wasted processor activity and power.

Career Highlights

Logan’s listed patent work focuses on processor performance and efficiency. His inventions address branch prediction and the control of instruction fetching in multithreaded processors.

Collaborations

Among Logan’s listed coworkers are fellow IBM inventors William John Starke and Richard James Eickemeyer.

Conclusion

Douglas Robert Logan’s patent contributions center on improving how processors predict branch targets and manage instruction fetching, with an emphasis on efficient execution.