Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically predicting the outcome and the tar address of a multiple-target branch instruction, where the multiple-target branch instruction contains at least two potential target addresses, not including the fall through address. In addition, this method and apparatus can also be used to predict multiple single-target branches simultaneously. The apparatus stores information indicating the outcome of previous executions and predictions of the multiple-target branch instruction in a branch prediction table. In addition, multiple target addresses (at least two) are associated with the multiple-target branch instruction. Using the information indicating the outcome of the previous execution of the multiple-target branch instruction, the apparatus predicts the outcome of a next execution of the multiple-target branch instruction, and predicts which, if any, of the target addresses associated with the multiple-target branch instruction, will be taken.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 20, 1996
Date of Patent:
May 11, 1999
Assignee:
Institute for the Development of Emerging Architectures, L.L.P.
Inventors:
Tse-Yu Yeh, Mircea Poplingher, Wenliang Chen, Hans Mulder