Patent ID: 9262169
Filing Date: 2016-02-16
CPC Classification: G06F

Claim Text:
1. A system for branch prediction table install source tracking, the system comprising: memory configured to store instructions accessible by a processor; and the processor comprising a branch target buffer, a higher-level branch target buffer that is larger than the branch target buffer and acquires blocks of branch target buffer entries that include a subset of branches to be stored in the branch target buffer, a pattern history table that monitors for recurring branch patterns to make predictions, and a processing pipeline operable to decode and execute the instructions, wherein the processor is configured to perform a method comprising: receiving at the branch target buffer a request to install a branch target buffer entry corresponding to a branch instruction for branch prediction; identifying a source of the request as an install source of the branch target buffer entry; storing an install source identifier in the branch target buffer based on the install source; and blocking a prediction from the pattern history table based on the install source identifier in the branch target buffer indicating that a software preload install is the install source.