Prefetch unit
US7779208B2 · kind B2 · utility
1Cited by
6References
18Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 7, 2009 |
| Grant date | Aug 17, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 17, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2212/6028
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In one embodiment, a processor comprises a prefetch unit coupled to a data cache. The prefetch unit is configured to concurrently maintain a plurality of separate, active prefetch streams. Each prefetch stream is either software initiated via execution by the processor of a dedicated prefetch instruction or hardware initiated via detection of a data cache miss by one or more load/store memory operations. The prefetch unit is further configured to generate prefetch requests responsive to the plurality of prefetch streams to prefetch data in to the data cache.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.