Data prefetcher
US8140769B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 20, 2009 |
| Grant date | Mar 20, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 3, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2212/6026
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In an embodiment, a processor includes a data cache and a prefetch unit coupled to the data cache. The prefetch unit is configured to detect one or more prefetch streams corresponding to load operations that miss the data cache, and includes a memory configured to store data corresponding to potential prefetch streams. The prefetch unit is configured to confirm a prefetch stream in response to N or more demand accesses to addresses in the prefetch stream, where N is a positive integer greater than one and is dependent on a prefetch pattern being detected. The prefetch unit comprises a plurality of stream engines, each stream engine configured to generate prefetches for a different prefetch stream assigned to that stream engine. The prefetch unit is configured to assign the confirmed prefetch stream to one of the plurality of stream engines.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.