A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed for managing predictive
accesses to memory. In one embodiment, an exemplary apparatus is
configured as a prediction inventory that stores predictions in a number
of queues. Each queue is configured to maintain predictions until a
subset of the predictions is either issued to access a memory or filtered
out as redundant. In another embodiment, an exemplary prefetcher predicts
accesses to a memory. The prefetcher comprises a speculator for
generating a number of predictions and a prediction inventory, which
includes queues each configured to maintain a group of items. The group
of items typically includes a triggering address that corresponds to the
group. Each item of the group is of one type of prediction. Also, the
prefetcher includes an inventory filter configured to compare the number
of predictions against one of the queues having the either the same or
different prediction type as the number of predictions.