Patent · US Expired

Bus expander with logic for virtualizing single cache control into dual channels with separate directories and prefetch for different processors

US4853846A · kind A · utility

62Cited by
8References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 29, 1986
Grant dateAug 1, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 29, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2212/6022
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Control logic for controlling references to a cache (24) including a cache directory (62) which is capable of being configured into a plurality of ways, each way including tag and valid-bit storage for associatively searching the directory (62) for cache data-array addresses. A cache-configuration register and control logic (64) splits the cache directory (62) into two logical directories, one directory for controlling requests from a first processor and the other directory for controlling requests from a second processor. A prefetch buffer (63) is provided along with a prefetch control register for splitting the prefetch buffer into two logical channels, a first channel for handling prefetches associated with requests from the first processor, and a second channel for handling prefetches associated with requests from the second processor.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.