Method and apparatus for dynamically switching a cache between direct-mapped and 4-way set associativity
US6446168B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 22, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 3, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 22, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F12/0864
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method of dynamically switching mapping schemes for cache includes a microprocessor, a first mapping scheme, a second mapping scheme and switching circuitry for switching between the first mapping scheme and the second mapping scheme. The microprocessor is in communication with the cache through the switching circuitry and stores information within the cache using one of the first mapping scheme and second mapping scheme. Also, monitoring circuitry for determining whether one of instructions and load/store operations is using the cache is included. Further, the switching circuitry switches between the first mapping scheme and the second mapping scheme based on which one of instructions and load/store operations is using the cache.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.