Patent ID: 8521999
Filing Date: 2013-08-27
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving a branch instruction; decoding a branch address and the branch instruction; executing a branch action associated with the branch address and the branch instruction; determining whether a branch associated with the executed branch action was taken; saving an identifier of the branch instruction and an indicator that the branch action was taken in a prefetch history table responsive to determining that the branch associated with the branch action was taken; receiving a prefetch branch history table (TouchBHT) instruction, wherein the TouchBHT instruction is associated with a second branch instruction; retrieving an entry in the prefetch history table having an identifier associated with the second branch instruction responsive to receiving the TouchBHT instruction; determining whether the entry indicates that a branch action associated with the second branch instruction was taken; and executing the TouchBHT instruction responsive to determining that the entry indicates that the branch action associated with the second branch instruction was taken.