Using Address Buffers, E.g., Return Stack (epo) Patents (Class 712/E9.057)
  • Patent number: 8171269
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for branch prediction. As an example, some embodiments of the present invention provides processor circuits that include a program address circuit, a branch target buffer, a branch prediction replacement circuit, and an execution pipeline. The branch target buffer includes a plurality of entries each associated with a respective change of flow instruction. Each entry includes an indication of an entry source and a next program address corresponding to the respective change of flow instruction. The branch prediction replacement circuit is operable to determine replacement priorities of the plurality of entries based at least in part on the entry source for each of the plurality of entries. The execution pipeline receives an executable instruction corresponding to one of the next program addresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Rabinovitch, Leonid Dubrovin