Providing extended branch target buffer (BTB) entries for storing trunk branch metadata and leaf branch metadata

Providing extended branch target buffer (BTB) entries for storing trunk branch metadata and leaf branch metadata is disclosed herein. In one aspect, a processor comprises a BTB circuit comprising a BTB comprising a plurality of extended BTB entries. The BTB circuit is configured to store trunk branc...

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser: McIlvaine, Michael Scott, Al Sheikh, Rami Mohammad, Jain, Saransh, Streett, Daren Eugene
Format: Patent
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:Providing extended branch target buffer (BTB) entries for storing trunk branch metadata and leaf branch metadata is disclosed herein. In one aspect, a processor comprises a BTB circuit comprising a BTB comprising a plurality of extended BTB entries. The BTB circuit is configured to store trunk branch metadata for a first branch instruction in an extended BTB entry of the plurality of extended BTB entries, wherein the extended BTB entry corresponds to a first aligned memory block containing an address of the first branch instruction. The BTB circuit is also configured to store leaf branch metadata for a second branch instruction in the extended BTB entry in association with the trunk branch metadata, wherein an address of the second branch instruction is subsequent to a target address of the first branch instruction within a second aligned memory block.