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Centralized management of high-contention cache lines in multi-processor computing environments

  • US 9,086,974 B2
  • Filed: 09/26/2013
  • Issued: 07/21/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for cache management in a multi-processor computing environment, the computing environment including a plurality of caches configured to hold a plurality of cache lines, each cache line configurable with a coherency mode, the plurality of caches associated with a coherence interconnect, the method comprising:

  • monitoring, with a centralized detector, communications on the coherence interconnect;

    detecting a first communication associated with a first cache line in the monitored communications, the first communication indicating an access of the first cache line resulting in a first performance-reducing event, the first cache line in a full-line coherency mode, wherein cache control logic associated with the first cache line is configured to operate or manage the first cache line in the full-line coherency mode with a full-line granularity;

    based on the detecting, determining that the first cache line is a high-contention cache line;

    based on the determining, placing the first cache line in a sub-line coherency mode, wherein the cache control logic is configured to operate or manage a plurality of sub-cache line portions of the first cache line in the sub-line coherency mode; and

    notifying caches accessing the first cache line that the first cache line is in the sub-line coherency mode.

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