US PATENT SUBCLASS 712 / 237
.~.~.~ Prefetching a branch target (i.e., look ahead)

Current as of: June, 1999
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712 /   HD   ELECTRICAL COMPUTERS AND DIGITAL PROCESSING SYSTEMS: PROCESSING ARCHITECTURES AND INSTURCTION PROCESSING (E.G., PROCESSORS)

220  DF  PROCESSING CONTROL {12}
233  DF  .~ Branching (e.g., delayed branch, loop control, branch predict, interrupt) {5}
234  DF  .~.~ Conditional branching {4}
237.~.~.~ Prefetching a branch target (i.e., look ahead) {1}
238  DF  .~.~.~.~> Branch target buffer

DEFINITION

Classification: 712/237

Prefetching a branch target (i.e., look ahead):

(under subclass 234) Subject matter including means or steps for prefetching an instruction from the target of a branch in anticipation of the branch being taken.

(1) Note. This subclass provides for prefetch in relation to a conditional branch. Generic prefetching is classified elsewhere.

(2) Note. Address generation for prefetching is classified elsewhere.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

207, for generic prefetch of instruction data.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

711, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Memory, subclass 213 for address generation for prefetching.