Directory cache supporting non-atomic input/output operations
US9170946B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 2012 |
| Grant date | Oct 27, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 9, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2212/621
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Responsive to receiving a write request for a cache line from an input/output device, a caching agent of a first processor determines that the cache line is managed by a home agent of a second processor. The caching agent sends an ownership request for the cache line to the second processor. A home agent of the second processor receives the ownership request, generates an entry in a directory cache for the cache line, the entry identifying the remote caching agent as having ownership of the cache line, and grants ownership of the cache line to the remote caching agent. Responsive to receiving the grant of ownership for the cache line from the home agent an input/output controller of the first processor adds an entry for the cache line to an input/output write cache, the entry comprising a first indicator that the cache line is managed by the home agent of the second processor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.