Combining write buffer with dynamically adjustable flush metrics
US8352685B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 20, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jan 8, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 11, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2212/502
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In an embodiment, a combining write buffer is configured to maintain one or more flush metrics to determine when to transmit write operations from buffer entries. The combining write buffer may be configured to dynamically modify the flush metrics in response to activity in the write buffer, modifying the conditions under which write operations are transmitted from the write buffer to the next lower level of memory. For example, in one implementation, the flush metrics may include categorizing write buffer entries as “collapsed.” A collapsed write buffer entry, and the collapsed write operations therein, may include at least one write operation that has overwritten data that was written by a previous write operation in the buffer entry. In another implementation, the combining write buffer may maintain the threshold of buffer fullness as a flush metric and may adjust it over time based on the actual buffer fullness.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.