| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To proactively manage a branch target address cache (BTAC) and reduce the probability of occurrence of a multiple flush cycle problem, that is, a problem of potential repeated pipeline flushing caused by BTAC prediction overridden by a branch history table (BHT) when the same branch instruction is processed by the pipeline.SOLUTION: In a multiple stage branch prediction system including a BTAC and a branch predictor circuit, the BTAC is configured to store a BTAC entry. The branch predictor circuit is configured to store state information. The branch predictor circuit utilizes the state information to predict the direction of a branch instruction and to manage the BTAC entry on the basis of the stored state information in response to an actual branch result of a branch instruction. |
