Method for perfetching structured data
US6311260A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 25, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 30, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 25, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/3832
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for prefetching structured data, and more particularly a mechanism for observing address references made by a processor, and learning from those references the patterns of accesses made to structured data. Structured data means aggregates of related data such as arrays, records, and data containing links and pointers. When subsequent accesses are made to data structured in the same way, the mechanism generates in advance the sequence of addresses that will be needed for the new accesses. This sequence is utilized by the memory to obtain the data somewhat earlier than the instructions would normally request it, and thereby eliminate idle time due to memory latency while awaiting the arrival of the data.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.