Selectively performing lookups for cache lines
US8117393B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 13, 2008 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 7, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F12/0897
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that selectively performs lookups for cache lines. During operation, the system by maintains a lower-level cache and a higher-level cache in accordance with a set of rules that dictate conditions under which cache lines are held in the lower-level cache and the higher-level cache. The system next performs a lookup for cache line A in the lower level cache. The system then discovers that the lookup for cache line A missed in the lower-level cache, but that cache line B is present in the lower-level cache. Next, in accordance with the set of rules, the system determines, without performing a lookup for cache line A in the higher-level cache, that cache line A is guaranteed not to be present and valid in the higher-level cache because cache line B is present in the lower-level cache.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.