Sharing monitored cache lines across multiple cores
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a first processor core configured to communicate an address range indication identifying an address range that the first processor core is monitoring for an update, wherein the first processor core is configured to communicate the address range indication responsive to executing a first instruction defined to cause the first processor core to monitor the address range for update; and
a second processor core coupled to receive the address range indication and configured, responsive to executing a store operation that updates at least one byte in the address range, to signal the first processing core, and wherein the second processor core is configured to issue one or more coherency communications to coherently perform the store operation; and
wherein the first processor core is coupled to receive the signal from the second processor core prior to receiving the one or more coherency communications issued by the second processor core to coherently perform the store operation, and wherein the first processor core is configured to exit a first state in which the first processor core is awaiting the update in the address range, the first processor core configured to exit the first state responsive to the signal from the second processor core.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a system comprises a first processor core and a second processor core. The first processor core is configured to communicate an address range indication identifying an address range that the first processor core is monitoring for an update. The first processor core is configured to communicate the address range indication responsive to executing a first instruction defined to cause the first processor core to monitor the address range. Coupled to receive the address range indication, the second processor core is configured, responsive to executing a store operation that updates at least one byte in the address range, to signal the first processing core. Coupled to receive the signal from the second processor core, the first processor core is configured to exit a first state in which the first processor core is awaiting the update in the address range responsive to the signal.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a first processor core configured to communicate an address range indication identifying an address range that the first processor core is monitoring for an update, wherein the first processor core is configured to communicate the address range indication responsive to executing a first instruction defined to cause the first processor core to monitor the address range for update; and a second processor core coupled to receive the address range indication and configured, responsive to executing a store operation that updates at least one byte in the address range, to signal the first processing core, and wherein the second processor core is configured to issue one or more coherency communications to coherently perform the store operation; and wherein the first processor core is coupled to receive the signal from the second processor core prior to receiving the one or more coherency communications issued by the second processor core to coherently perform the store operation, and wherein the first processor core is configured to exit a first state in which the first processor core is awaiting the update in the address range, the first processor core configured to exit the first state responsive to the signal from the second processor core. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26)
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9. A method comprising:
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communicating, from a first processor core to a second processor core, an address range indication identifying an address range that the first processor core is monitoring for an update, wherein the communicating is responsive to executing a first instruction in the first processor core that is defined to cause the first processor core to monitor the address range for update; executing a store operation that updates at least one byte in the address range in the second processor core; issuing one or more coherency communications from the second processor core to coherently perform the store operation; responsive to the store operation, signalling the first processor core; and in the first processor core, exiting a first state, in which the first processor core is awaiting the update in the address range, wherein the exiting is responsive to the signalling and occurs prior to receiving the one or more coherency communications issued by the second processor core to coherently perform the store operation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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- 15. A processor core comprising a monitor unit configured to monitor an address range for update responsive to a first instruction, wherein the processor core is configured to enter a first state to await the update to the address range, and wherein the monitor unit is configured to communicate an address range indication identifying the address range to a second processor core responsive to executing the first instruction, and wherein the monitor unit is configured to receive a signal from the second processor core indicating that the second processor core is updating at least one byte in the address range, and wherein the processor core is coupled to receive the signal prior to receiving one or more coherency communications issued by the second processor core to coherently perform the store operation, and wherein the processor core is configured to exit the first state responsive to the signal.
Specification