Supporting speculative modification in a data cache
US7873793B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jan 18, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 29, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2212/603
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Method and system for supporting speculative modification in a data cache are provided and described. A data cache comprises a plurality of cache lines. Each cache line includes a state indicator for indicating anyone of a plurality of states, wherein the plurality of states includes a speculative state to enable keeping track of speculative modification to data in the respective cache line. The speculative state enables a speculative modification to the data in the respective cache line to be made permanent in response to a first operation performed upon reaching a particular instruction boundary during speculative execution of instructions. Further, the speculative state enables the speculative modification to the data in the respective cache line to be undone in response to a second operation performed upon failing to reach the particular instruction boundary during speculative execution of instructions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.