METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHANGING SEQUENTIAL FLOW OF PROGRAM EMPLOYING ADVANCE NOTICE TECHNIQUE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a processor which implements an apparatus and a method for advance notice of an indirect branch address.SOLUTION: A target address generated by an instruction is automatically identified. A next program address is prepared based on the newest target address before an indirect branch instruction utilizing the newest target address is speculatively executed. The apparatus preferably employs a register for holding an instruction memory address that is specified by a program as a newest indirect address of the indirect branch instruction. The apparatus also employs a next program address selector that selects the newest indirect address from the register as the next program address for use in speculatively executing the indirect branch instruction.