Method and apparatus for handling invalidation requests to processors not present in a computer system
First Claim
1. A method for generating invalidation requests in a computer system, comprising:
- receiving an invalidation request from a local processor, the invalidation request indicating that a memory location has been altered in the computer system by the local processor;
generating an invalidation message in response to the invalidation request;
transmitting the invalidation message to processors in the computer system that have accessed the memory location.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A node controller (12) in a computer system (10) includes a processor interface unit (24), a memory directory interface unit (22), and a local block unit (28). In response to a memory location in a memory (17) associated with the memory directory interface unit (22) being altered, the processor interface unit (24) generates an invalidation request for transfer to the memory directory interface unit (22). The memory directory interface unit (22) provides the invalidation request and identities of processors (16) affected by the invalidation request to the local block unit (28). The local block unit (28) determines which ones of the identified processors (16) are present in the computer system (10) and generates an invalidation message for each present processor (16) for transfer thereto. Each of the present processors (16) process their invalidation message and generate an acknowledgment message for transfer to the processor interface unit (24) that generated the invalidation request. The local block unit (28) determines which ones of the identified processors (16) are not present in the computer system (10) and generates an acknowledgment message for each non-existent processor (16). Each acknowledgment message is transferred to the processor interface unit (24) which generated the invalidation request.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for generating invalidation requests in a computer system, comprising:
-
receiving an invalidation request from a local processor, the invalidation request indicating that a memory location has been altered in the computer system by the local processor;
generating an invalidation message in response to the invalidation request;
transmitting the invalidation message to processors in the computer system that have accessed the memory location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A system for generating invalidation requests in a computer system, comprising:
-
means for receiving an invalidation request from a local processor, the invalidation request indicating that a memory location has been altered in the computer system by the local processor;
means for generating an invalidation message in response to the invalidation request;
means for transmitting the invalidation message to processors currently active in the computer system that have accessed the memory location. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
15. A computer readable medium including code for generating invalidation requests in a computer system, the code operable to:
-
receive an invalidation request from a local processor, the invalidation request indicating that a memory location has been altered in the computer system by the local processor;
generate an invalidation message in response to the invalidation request;
transmit the invalidation message to processors currently active in the computer system that have accessed the memory location.
-
Specification