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. 02, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 26, 1997
Oded Lempel, Haifa, IL;
Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A branch prediction unit includes a first branch target buffer, a second branch target buffer, and a static predictor. The first branch target buffer is adapted for storing a first plurality of branch history entries. The second branch target buffer is adapted for storing a second plurality of branch history entries. The static predictor is adapted for determining a static branch prediction for an encountered branch instruction. The second branch target buffer is further adapted to allocate a branch history entry based on the static prediction. A method for predicting program branches in a microprocessor includes fetching a program instruction to be executed by the microprocessor. It is determined if an entry corresponding to the program instruction is stored in a first branch target buffer, and if an entry corresponding to the program instruction is stored in a second branch target buffer. It is determined if the program instruction is a branch instruction. A static prediction is determined for the branch instruction. A branch history entry is allocated in the second branch target buffer based on the static prediction if the first and second branch target buffers do not contain entries corresponding to the program instruction.