Patent · US Expired

Cache line ownership transfer in multi-processor computer systems

US7216205B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
8References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 12, 2004
Grant dateMay 8, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 3, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S707/99952
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Transferring cache line ownership between processors in a shared memory multi-processor computer system. A request for ownership of a cache line is sent from a requesting processor to a memory unit. The memory unit receives the request and determines which one of a plurality of processors other than the requesting processor has ownership of the requested cache line. The memory sends an ownership recall to that processor. In response to the ownership recall, the other processor sends the requested cache line to the requesting processor, which may send a response to the memory unit to confirm receipt of the requested cache line. The other processor may optionally send a response to the memory unit to confirm that the other processor has sent the requested cache line to the requesting processor. A copy of the data for the requested cache line may, under some circumstances, also be sent to the memory unit by the other processor as part of the response.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.