Method of cache management to dynamically update information-type dependent cache policies
US6434669B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 7, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 13, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 7, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F12/10
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A set associative cache includes a cache controller, a directory, and an array including at least one congruence class containing a plurality of sets. The plurality of sets are partitioned into multiple groups according to which of a plurality of information types each set can store. The sets are partitioned so that at least two of the groups include the same set and at least one of the sets can store fewer than all of the information types. To optimize cache operation, the cache controller dynamically modifies a cache policy of a first group while retaining a cache policy of a second group, thus permitting the operation of the cache to be individually optimized for different information types. The dynamic modification of cache policy can be performed in response to either a hardware-generated or software-generated input.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.