System and method for processing memory instructions using a forced order queue
First Claim
1. A computerized method for accessing data in a memory system having a local cache and a higher level cache, comprising:
- obtaining a memory request;
storing the memory request in an Initial Request Queue (IRQ); and
processing the memory request from the IRQ by a cache controller, wherein processing includes;
determining whether the memory request hits in the local cache;
determining whether a portion of an address associated with the memory request matches one or more partial addresses in a Force Order Queue (FOQ),wherein the FOQ stores a memory request that is pending to the higher level cache;
when the portion of an address associated with the memory request does not match the one or more partial addresses in the FOQ and, at the same time, the memory request hits in the local cache, servicing the memory request immediately using data in the local cache without adding the memory request to the FOQ;
when the portion of an address associated with the memory request does not match the one or more partial addresses in the FOQ and, at the same time, the memory request misses in the local cache, adding the memory request to the FOQ, allocating a cache line in the local cache corresponding to the local cache miss and servicing the memory request using data received from the higher level cache;
when the portion of an address associated with the memory request matches the one or more partial addresses in the FOQ and, at the same time, the memory request hits in the local cache, preventing the memory request from being satisfied in the local cache, wherein preventing includes adding the memory request to the FOQ and servicing the memory request using data received from the higher level cache; and
when the portion of an address associated with the memory request matches the one or more partial addresses in the FOQ and, at the same time, the memory request misses in the local cache, preventing the memory request from being satisfied in the local cache, wherein preventing includes adding the memory request to the FOQ and servicing the memory request using data received from the higher level cache.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A novel system and method for processing memory instructions. One embodiment of the invention provides a method for processing a memory instruction. In this embodiment, the method includes obtaining a memory request; storing the memory request in an Initial Request Queue (IRQ); and processing the memory request from the IRQ by a cache controller, wherein processing includes: identifying a type of the memory request, and processing the memory request in both a local cache and an Force Order Queue (FOQ), wherein processing includes determining if a portion of an address associated with the memory request matches one or more partial addresses in the FOQ and, if the memory request misses in the cache and the address does not match one or more partial addresses in the FOQ, adding the memory request to the FOQ and allocating a cache line in the local cache corresponding to the local cache miss.
158 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A computerized method for accessing data in a memory system having a local cache and a higher level cache, comprising:
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obtaining a memory request; storing the memory request in an Initial Request Queue (IRQ); and processing the memory request from the IRQ by a cache controller, wherein processing includes; determining whether the memory request hits in the local cache; determining whether a portion of an address associated with the memory request matches one or more partial addresses in a Force Order Queue (FOQ), wherein the FOQ stores a memory request that is pending to the higher level cache; when the portion of an address associated with the memory request does not match the one or more partial addresses in the FOQ and, at the same time, the memory request hits in the local cache, servicing the memory request immediately using data in the local cache without adding the memory request to the FOQ; when the portion of an address associated with the memory request does not match the one or more partial addresses in the FOQ and, at the same time, the memory request misses in the local cache, adding the memory request to the FOQ, allocating a cache line in the local cache corresponding to the local cache miss and servicing the memory request using data received from the higher level cache; when the portion of an address associated with the memory request matches the one or more partial addresses in the FOQ and, at the same time, the memory request hits in the local cache, preventing the memory request from being satisfied in the local cache, wherein preventing includes adding the memory request to the FOQ and servicing the memory request using data received from the higher level cache; and when the portion of an address associated with the memory request matches the one or more partial addresses in the FOQ and, at the same time, the memory request misses in the local cache, preventing the memory request from being satisfied in the local cache, wherein preventing includes adding the memory request to the FOQ and servicing the memory request using data received from the higher level cache. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A scalar processor, comprising:
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a local cache; an Initial Request Queue (IRQ); and a cache controller having a Force Order Queue (FOQ), wherein the FOQ stores a scalar memory request that missed in the local cache and is pending to a higher level cache; wherein the IRQ buffers a scalar load/store memory request having a scalar load/store instruction and its one or more associated addresses and sends the scalar load/store memory request to the cache controller and the local cache; wherein, when a portion of the one or more associated addresses of the scalar load/store memory request does not match one or more partial addresses in the FOQ and, at the same time, the scalar load/store memory request hits in the local cache, the local cache services the scalar load/store memory request received from the IRQ without adding the memory request to the FOQ; wherein, when the portion of the one or more associated addresses of the scalar load/store memory request does not match the one or more partial addressed in the FOQ and, at the same time, the scalar load/store memory request misses in the local cache, the scalar load/store memory request is added to the FOQ, one or more lines in the local cache are allocated for cache line replacement, and the scalar load/store memory request is passed to the higher level cache; wherein, when the portion of the one or more associated addresses of the scalar load/store memory request matches the one or more partial addresses in the FOQ and, at the same time, the scalar load/store memory request hits in the local cache, the scalar load/store memory request is added to the FOQ and the scalar load/store memory request is passed to the higher level cache; and wherein, when the portion of the one or more associated addresses of the scalar load/store memory request matches the one or more partial addresses in the FOQ and, at the same time, the scalar load/store memory request misses in the local cache, the scalar load/store memory request is added to the FOQ and the scalar load/store memory request is passed to the higher level cache. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A scalar processor, comprising:
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a local cache; an Initial Request Queue (IRQ); and a plurality of cache controllers, wherein each cache controller includes a Force Order Queue (FOQ), wherein the cache controllers receive scalar memory requests from the IRQ and wherein, when a cache controller receives such a scalar memory request, the cache controller stores the scalar memory request in its FOQ if the scalar memory request misses in the local cache and is pending to a higher level cache; wherein the IRQ buffers a scalar load/store memory request having a scalar load/store instruction and its one or more associated addresses and sends the scalar load/store memory request to the local cache and to one of the plurality of cache controllers corresponding to the one or more associated addresses of the scalar load/store memory request; wherein, when a portion of the one or more associated addresses of the scalar load/store memory request does not match one or more partial addresses in the FOQ and, at the same time, the scalar load/store memory request hits in the local cache, the local cache services the scalar load/store memory request received from the IRQ without adding the memory request to the FOQ; wherein, when the portion of the one or more associated addresses of the scalar load/store memory request does not match the one or more partial addressed in the FOQ and, at the same time, the scalar load/store memory request misses in the local cache, the scalar load/store memory request is added to the FOQ, one or more lines in the local cache are allocated for cache line replacement, and the scalar load/store memory request is passed to the higher level cache; wherein, when the portion of the one or more associated addresses of the scalar load/store memory request matches the one or more partial addresses in the FOQ and, at the same time, the scalar load/store memory request hits in the local cache, the scalar load/store command is added to the FOQ and the scalar load/store memory request is passed to the higher level cache; and wherein, when the portion of the one or more associated addresses of the scalar load/store memory request matches the one or more partial addresses in the FOQ and, at the same time, the scalar load/store memory request misses in the local cache, the scalar load/store memory request is added to the FOQ and the scalar load/store memory request is passed to the higher level cache. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification