Patent · US Expired

Cache memory management system having reduced reloads to a second level cache for enhanced memory performance in a data processing system

US5737751A · kind A · utility

23Cited by
2References
8Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateMar 26, 1996
Grant dateApr 7, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 26, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F12/0897
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A data processing system having enhanced memory performance is provided. The data processing system comprises a processor that issues memory requests, a multilevel storage system including a first level cache, a second level cache, and a main memory connected to the processor in a memory hierarchy, and a memory controller. The memory controller retrieves a cache line from main memory, when a memory request for the cache line is received from the processor at the first level cache that causes a miss in both the first level cache and the second level cache. The memory controller loads the retrieved cache line in both the first level cache and the second level cache if the received memory request is a load request, and loads the retrieved cache line in only the first level cache and not the second level cache if the received memory request is a store request. The resultant reduction in reloads to the second level cache enhances memory performance by allowing immediate execution of subsequent memory requests to the second level cache and producing a higher hit rate as a result of the reduction in castouts from the second level cache.

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