Virtual uncompressed cache for compressed main memory
US6349372B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 19, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 19, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 19, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99942
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
System and method for reducing data access latency for cache miss operations in a computer system implementing main memory compression in which the unit of compression is a memory segment. The method includes steps of providing common memory area in main memory for storing compressed and uncompressed data segments; accessing directory structure formed in the main memory having entries for locating both uncompressed data segments and compressed data segments for cache miss operations, each directory entry including index for locating data segments in the main memory and further indicating status of the data segment; and, checking a status indication of a data segment to be accessed for a cache miss operation, and processing either a compressed or uncompressed data segment from the common memory area according to the status.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.