Method and mechanism for cache compaction and bandwidth reduction
US8046538B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 4, 2005 |
| Grant date | Oct 25, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 5, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2212/1016
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and mechanism are managing caches. A cache is configured to store blocks of data based upon predictions of future accesses. Each block is partitioned into sub-blocks, and if it is predicted a given sub-block is unlikely to be accessed, the sub-block may not be stored in the cache. Associated with each block is a mask which indicates whether sub-blocks of the block are likely to be accessed. When a block is first loaded into the cache, the corresponding mask is cleared and an indication is set for the block to indicate a training mode for the block. Access patterns of the block are then monitored and stored in the mask. If a given sub-block is accessed a predetermined number of times, a bit in the mask is set to indicate that the sub-block is likely to be accessed. When a block is evicted from the cache, the mask is also transferred for storage and only the sub-blocks identified by the mask as being likely to be accessed may be transferred for storage. If previously evicted data is restored to the cache, a previously stored mask is accessed to determine which of the sub-blocks are predicted likely to be accessed. The lower level storage may then transfer only those sub-bloc…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.