Caching associative memory
US6378042B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 10, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 23, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 10, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F12/0802
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for operating an associative memory cache device in a computer system. The system comprises a search client configured to search for data in a caching associative memory such as a content addressable memory (CAM); a caching associative memory element coupled to the search client for generating a matching signal; and a associative memory element coupled to the caching associative element configured to search for data not stored in the caching associative memory element. The search client issues a search request for data to associative cache element. If the matching data is found there, then such matching data is returned to the search client. Alternatively, if the data is not found, then the search request is issued to the main associative memory. The least frequently used data or the least recently used data in the associative memory cache are replaced with the matching data and the higher priority data.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.