Patent · US Active

Tracking the content of a cache using a way tracker having entries with a cache miss indicator

US9864694B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
2References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 4, 2015
Grant dateJan 9, 2018
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 4, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D10/00
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A cache is provided comprising a plurality of ways, each way of the plurality of ways comprising a data array, wherein a data item stored by the cache is stored in the data array of one of the plurality of ways. A way tracker of the cache has a plurality of entries, each entry of the plurality of entries for storing a data item identifier and for storing, in association with the data item identifier, an indication of a selected way of the plurality of ways to indicate that a data item identified by the data item identifier is stored in the selected way. Each entry of the way tracker is further for storing a miss indicator in association with the data item identifier, wherein the miss indicator is set by the cache when a lookup for a data item identified by that data item identifier has resulted in a cache miss. A corresponding method of caching data is also provided.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.