Methods and apparatus for monitoring prefetcher accuracy information using a prefetch flag independently accessible from prefetch tag information
US11086781B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 21, 2019 |
| Grant date | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 28, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2212/6024
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Examples of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus comprising processing circuitry to perform data processing operations and a hierarchical cache structure. The cache structure comprises a plurality of cache levels to store data for access by the processing circuitry, and includes a highest cache level arranged to receive data requests directly from the processing circuitry. The apparatus comprises a plurality of prefetch units, each prefetch unit being associated with a cache level and being arranged to prefetch data into the associated cache level in anticipation of the processing circuitry requiring the data, wherein: each cache level has a plurality of entries and is arranged to maintain prefetch tag information for each entry which, when a given entry contains prefetched data, indicates which prefetch unit of that cache level and/or of a lower cache level prefetched that data; and each cache level is arranged, responsive to a data request from a higher cache level, to provide to the higher cache level the requested data and the prefetch tag information corresponding to the requested data. The apparatus further comprises accuracy information storage to: maintain accuracy…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.