BRANCH PREDICTION DEVICE AND METHOD

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a branch prediction device and method with high prediction precision. SOLUTION: At the time when branch history 210 detects presence of a call instruction, an address of a return destination of a return instruction corresponding to the call instruction is stored in a return address stack X240. When the branch history 210 detects presence of the return instruction before execution of the call instruction is completed in a branch reservation station 150, the address of the return destination of the return instruction is not stored in a return address stack 220, however, in this case, an output selection circuit 280 predicts a right return destination using information stored in the return address stack X240. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI