Patent ID: 7412592
Filing Date: 2008-08-12
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A branch instruction control apparatus in which a plurality of entries in which data required for the implementation control of branch instructions and a valid flag for the data are stored in order of decoding successively from the top entry are provided, comprising: a bubble-up mechanism which, when one or more entries are successively released in order of older decoding from the top entry among the entries whose implementation control of the corresponding branch instructions has been completed, moves the contents of the remaining entries in a direction toward the top entry by the number of entries released regardless of a value of the valid flag of the released entries, and a new-entry data set unit for storing data required for the implementation control of newly decoded branch instructions in one or more empty entries which are near the top entry including the entries which become empty by the movement, in the same cycle as in the movement of the said contents of entries by the bubble-up mechanism.