Patent ID: 6275918
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for improving pre-fetch accuracy in a data processing system utilizing a pre-fetch history table, said method comprising the steps of:providing a first load instruction address;accessing an entry within a pre-fetch history table by comparing a portion of said first load instruction address with a second address located as an entry in said pre-fetch history table, wherein said pre-fetch history table contains a target operand address associated with said first load instruction address;determining whether or not pre-fetch history is contained in said entry in accordance with the status of a validity bit;responsive to a determination that pre-fetch history is contained in said entry, incrementing an indicator field within said entry, wherein said indicator field maintains a count of the number of accesses to said entry; andobtaining a pre-fetch target operand address for a next load instruction in response to said count exceeding a threshold value, wherein said pre-fetch target operand address is determined in accordance with said associated target operand address within said pre-fetch history table.