System, apparatus and method for generating nonsequential predictions to access a memory
US7461211B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 17, 2004 |
| Grant date | Dec 2, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 18, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F12/0862
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed for storing and prioritizing predictions to anticipate nonsequential accesses to a memory. In one embodiment, an exemplary apparatus is configured as a prefetcher for predicting accesses to a memory. The prefetcher includes a prediction generator configured to generate a prediction that is unpatternable to an address. Also, the prefetcher also can include a target cache coupled to the prediction generator to maintain the prediction in a manner that determines a priority for the prediction. In another embodiment, the prefetcher can also include a priority adjuster. The priority adjuster sets a priority for a prediction relative to other predictions. In some cases, the placement of the prediction is indicative of the priority relative to priorities for the other predictions. In yet another embodiment, the prediction generator uses the priority to determine that the prediction is to be generated before other predictions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.