Handling Castout Cache Lines In A Victim Cache
First Claim
1. A method of cache management in a victim cache in a cache hierarchy of a processor core, said method comprising:
- receiving a castout command identifying a victim cache line castout from another cache memory;
thereafter, holding the victim cache line in a cache array of the victim cache; and
if said another cache memory is a higher level cache in the cache hierarchy of the processor core, marking the victim cache line in the victim cache so that it is less likely to be evicted by a replacement policy of the victim cache, and otherwise, marking the victim cache line in the victim cache so that it is more likely to be evicted by the replacement policy of the victim cache.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A victim cache memory includes a cache array, a cache directory of contents of the cache array, and a cache controller that controls operation of the victim cache memory. The cache controller, responsive to receiving a castout command identifying a victim cache line castout from another cache memory, causes the victim cache line to be held in the cache array. If the other cache memory is a higher level cache in the cache hierarchy of the processor core, the cache controller marks the victim cache line in the cache directory so that it is less likely to be evicted by a replacement policy of the victim cache, and otherwise, marks the victim cache line in the cache directory so that it is more likely to be evicted by the replacement policy of the victim cache.
138 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of cache management in a victim cache in a cache hierarchy of a processor core, said method comprising:
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receiving a castout command identifying a victim cache line castout from another cache memory; thereafter, holding the victim cache line in a cache array of the victim cache; and if said another cache memory is a higher level cache in the cache hierarchy of the processor core, marking the victim cache line in the victim cache so that it is less likely to be evicted by a replacement policy of the victim cache, and otherwise, marking the victim cache line in the victim cache so that it is more likely to be evicted by the replacement policy of the victim cache. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A victim cache memory, comprising:
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a cache array; a cache directory of contents of the cache array; and a cache controller that controls operation of the victim cache memory, wherein the cache controller, responsive to receiving a castout command identifying a victim cache line castout from another cache memory, causes the victim cache line to be held in the cache array, wherein if said another cache memory is a higher level cache in the cache hierarchy of the processor core, the cache controller marks the victim cache line in the cache directory so that it is less likely to be evicted by a replacement policy of the victim cache, and otherwise, marks the victim cache line in the cache directory so that it is more likely to be evicted by the replacement policy of the victim cache. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A data processing system, comprising:
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a processor core; and a cache hierarchy coupled to the processor core, said cache hierarchy including a victim cache memory, said victim cache memory including a cache array; a cache directory of contents of the cache array; and a cache controller that controls operation of the victim cache memory, wherein the cache controller, responsive to receiving a castout command identifying a victim cache line castout from another cache memory, causes the victim cache line to be held in the cache array, wherein if said another cache memory is a higher level cache in the cache hierarchy of the processor core, the cache controller marks the victim cache line in the cache directory so that it is less likely to be evicted by a replacement policy of the victim cache, and otherwise, marks the victim cache line in the cache directory so that it is more likely to be evicted by the replacement policy of the victim cache. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification