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:
Oct. 12, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 22, 2001
Douglas Robert Logan, Austin, TX (US);
Alexander Erik Mericas, Austin, TX (US);
William John Starke, Round Rock, TX (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A hazard prediction array consists of an array of saturating counters. The array is indexed through a portion of the instruction address. At issue, the hazard prediction array is referenced and a prediction is made as to whether the current instruction or group of instructions is likely to encounter a flush. If the prediction is that it will flush, the instruction is not issued until it is the next instruction to complete. If the prediction is that the instruction will not flush, it is issued as normal. At completion time, the prediction array is updated with the actual flush behavior. When an instruction is predicted to flush and, thus, not issued until it is the next to complete, the predictor may be updated as if the instruction did not flush.