Data prefetcher that adjusts prefetch stream length based on confidence
US8166251B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 20, 2009 |
| Grant date | Apr 24, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 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 identify a prefetch stream in cache misses from the data cache, and the prefetch unit is configured to issue prefetches predicted by the prefetch stream to prefetch data into the data cache. More particularly, the prefetch unit implements one or more stream engines that generate prefetches for respective prefetch streams. Each stream engine is configured to maintain limit data that indicates a number of prefetches that are permitted to be outstanding beyond a most recent demand access. The stream engine is configured to increase the limit responsive to the number of demand accesses that consume prefetched data at least equaling the limit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.