Patent ID: 7711935
Filing Date: 2010-05-04
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A system for speculative branch predictions, the system comprising: branch prediction logic to predict a branch path for a branch in an instruction stream; fetch logic coupled to the branch prediction logic, the fetch logic to speculatively fetch an instruction corresponding to the predicted branch path; branch identification logic coupled to the branch prediction logic and the fetch logic, the branch identification logic to mark the speculatively fetched instruction with a branch identifier using a universal branch identification format, the universal branch identification format comprising a bit value at a bit position corresponding to the predicted branch path; branch invalidation logic coupled to the branch identification logic, the branch invalidation logic to invalidate the speculatively fetched instruction in response to an invalidation command comprising the bit value at the bit position corresponding to the predicted branch path, the invalidation command comprising a thread identifier to designate a thread of a multi-threaded process, the designated thread corresponding to the predicted branch path; and a computer readable storage medium comprising a hardware storage device for holding the speculatively fetched instruction.