Abstract: A predictor which chooses between two or more predictors is described. The predictor includes a first component predictor which operates according to a first algorithm to produce a prediction of an action and a second component predictor which operates according to a second algorithm to produce a prediction of said action. The predictor also includes means, coupled to each of said first and second predictors, for choosing between predictions provided from said predictors to provide a prediction of the action from the predictor. The predictor can be used to predict outcomes of branches, cache hits, prefetched instruction sequences, and so forth.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 31, 1994
Date of Patent:
May 26, 1998
Assignee:
Digital Equipment Corporation
Inventors:
Scott McFarling, Simon C. Steely, Jr., Joel Emer, Edward McLellan