Patent ID: 6108774
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A branch prediction apparatus, comprising:a branch prediction storage coupled to receive a fetch address corresponding to a group of contiguous instruction bytes being fetched from an instruction cache, wherein said branch prediction storage is configured to store a plurality of branch selectors and a first return selector, wherein a first one of said plurality of branch selectors corresponds to a first instruction within said group of contiguous instruction bytes, wherein said first return selector corresponds to said first one of said plurality of branch selectors, wherein said first one of said plurality of branch selectors corresponds to a first category of branch prediction in response to detecting a first condition of said first return selector, wherein said first one of said plurality of branch selectors corresponds to a second category of branch prediction in response to detecting a second condition of said first return selector, and wherein said first one of said plurality of branch selectors and said first return selector identify a first branch prediction to be selected in response to said first instruction being fetched; anda selection mechanism coupled to said branch prediction storage, wherein said selection mechanism is configured to receive said plurality of branch selectors and said first return selector, wherein said selection mechanism is configured to select said first one of said plurality of branch selectors in response to a plurality of least significant bits of said fetch address and to select said first branch prediction in response to said first one of said plurality of branch selectors and said first return selector.