17959829. REUSE OF BRANCH INFORMATION QUEUE ENTRIES FOR MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF PREDICTED CONTROL INSTRUCTIONS IN CAPTURED LOOPS IN A PROCESSOR simplified abstract (Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC)

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REUSE OF BRANCH INFORMATION QUEUE ENTRIES FOR MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF PREDICTED CONTROL INSTRUCTIONS IN CAPTURED LOOPS IN A PROCESSOR

Organization Name

Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Inventor(s)

Daren Eugene Streett of Cary NC (US)

Rami Mohammad Al Sheikh of Morrisville NC (US)

REUSE OF BRANCH INFORMATION QUEUE ENTRIES FOR MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF PREDICTED CONTROL INSTRUCTIONS IN CAPTURED LOOPS IN A PROCESSOR - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17959829 titled 'REUSE OF BRANCH INFORMATION QUEUE ENTRIES FOR MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF PREDICTED CONTROL INSTRUCTIONS IN CAPTURED LOOPS IN A PROCESSOR

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes a patent application related to the reuse of branch information queue entries for multiple instances of predicted control instructions in captured loops in a processor. This innovation allows for the conservation of space in the branch information queue circuit, leading to a smaller sized BIQ circuit, which in turn conserves area and power consumption.

  • The processor establishes and updates a branch entry in a branch information queue (BIQ) circuit with branch information in response to a speculative prediction made for a predicted control instruction.
  • The branch information is used for making and tracking flow path predictions for predicted control instructions as well as verifying such predictions against its resolution for possible misprediction recovery.
  • The processor is configured to reuse the same branch entry in the BIQ circuit for each instance of the predicted control instruction, conserving space in the BIQ circuit.
  • The branch information for each instance of a predicted control instruction within a loop remains consistent.

Potential Applications

This technology could be applied in processors for various computing devices, such as smartphones, laptops, servers, and more.

Problems Solved

1. Efficient use of space in the branch information queue circuit. 2. Conservation of power consumption in processors.

Benefits

1. Smaller sized branch information queue circuit. 2. Improved performance and efficiency in processor operations.

Potential Commercial Applications

Optimizing processor design for better performance and energy efficiency in various computing devices.

Possible Prior Art

Prior art related to branch prediction mechanisms in processors may exist, but specific examples are not provided in the abstract.

Unanswered Questions

How does this innovation impact the overall performance of the processor?

The abstract mentions conserving space and power consumption, but it does not delve into the direct impact on the processor's speed or efficiency.

Are there any potential drawbacks or limitations to reusing branch information queue entries?

While the reuse of entries conserves space, there may be trade-offs in terms of accuracy or flexibility in handling different types of predicted control instructions.


Original Abstract Submitted

Reuse of branch information queue entries for multiple instances of predicted control instructions in captured loops in a processor, and related methods and computer-readable media. The processor establishes and updates a branch entry in a branch information queue (BIQ) circuit with branch information in response to a speculative prediction made for a predicted control instruction. The branch information is used for making and tracking flow path predictions for predicted control instructions as well as verifying such predictions against its resolution for possible misprediction recovery. The processor is configured to reuse the same branch entry in the BIQ circuit for each instance of the predicted control instruction. This conserves space in the BIQ circuit, which allows for a smaller sized BIQ circuit to be used thus conserving area and power consumption. The branch information for each instance of a predicted control instruction within a loop remains consistent.

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