Prefetch insertion by correlation of cache misses and previously executed instructions

摘要

Method and apparatus for inserting prefetch instructions in an executable computer program. Profile data are generated for executed load instructions and store instructions. The profile data include instruction addresses, target addresses, data loaded and stored, and execution counts. From the profile data, recurring patterns of instructions resulting in cache-miss conditions are identified. Prefetch instructions are inserted prior to the instructions that result in cache-miss conditions for patterns of instructions recurring more than a selected frequency.