The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 01, 2022
Filed:
Mar. 04, 2021
Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc, Redmond, WA (US);
Daren E. Streett, Cary, NC (US);
Rami Mohammad Al Sheikh, Morrisville, NC (US);
Michael Scott McIlvaine, Raleigh, NC (US);
Richard W. Doing, Raleigh, NC (US);
Robert Douglas Clancy, Cary, NC (US);
Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
A processor branch prediction circuit employs back-invalidation of prediction cache entries based on decoded branch instructions. The execution information of a previously executed branch instruction is obtained from a prediction cache entry and compared to generated decode information in an instruction decode circuit. Execution information of branch instructions stored in the prediction cache entry is updated in response to a mismatch of the execution information and the decode information of the branch instruction. Existing branch prediction circuits invalidate prediction cache entries of a block of instructions when the block of instructions is invalidated in an instruction cache. As a result, valid branch instruction execution information may be unnecessarily discarded. Updating prediction cache entries in response to a mismatch of the execution information and the decode information of the branch instruction maintains the execution information in the prediction cache.