Allocation and write policy for a glueless area-efficient directory cache for hotly contested cache lines
US8392665B2 · kind B2 · utility
9Cited by
8References
30Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 25, 2010 |
| Grant date | Mar 5, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 9, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2212/2542
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and apparatus relating to allocation and/or write policy for a glueless area-efficient directory cache for hotly contested cache lines are described. In one embodiment, a directory cache stores data corresponding to a caching status of a cache line. The caching status of the cache line is stored for each of a plurality of caching agents in the system. An write-on-allocate policy is used for the directory cache by using a special state (e.g., snoop-all state) that indicates one or more snoops are to be broadcasted to all agents in the system. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.