Cache management in managed runtime environments

• US 9,223,699 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Wu, Keqiang, Chow, Kingsum, Lee, Yong-Fong
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsui, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/837,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20140281230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0253 Garbage collection, i.e. reclamation of unreferenced memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0802 Addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means, e.g. caches
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0815 Cache consistency protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0837 with software control, e.g. non-cacheable data

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to provide cache management in managed runtime environments are described. In one embodiment, a controller comprises logic to determine an update frequency for an object in the runtime environment and assigning the object to an unshared cache line when the update frequency exceeds an update frequency threshold. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising logic instructions stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium which, when executed by a controller, configure the controller to perform operations to manage a cache memory in a runtime environment, comprising:

determining an update frequency for an object in the runtime environment;

assigning the object to an unshared cache line when the update frequency exceeds an update frequency threshold and;

storing the update frequency for the object in a data field in a header for the object.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising logic instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium which, when executed by the controller, configure the controller to perform operations comprising:

monitoring the update frequency for a plurality of objects in the runtime environment on a periodic basis; and

setting the update frequency threshold dynamically as a function of the update frequency for the plurality of objects.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising logic instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium which, when executed by the controller, configure the controller to perform operations comprising:

padding a data field of the object when the update frequency reaches the update frequency threshold.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising logic instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium which, when executed by the controller, configure the controller to perform operations comprising:

unpadding the data field of the object when the update frequency falls below the update frequency threshold.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising logic instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium which, when executed by the controller, configure the controller to perform operations comprising:

designating a section of the cache memory as a single object line memory section; and

assigning the object to the single object memory section when the update frequency exceeds an update frequency threshold.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising logic instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium which, when executed by the controller, configure the controller to perform operations comprising:

designating the object as a complete cache line object when the update frequency exceeds an update frequency threshold; and

assigning the object to an unshared cache line.

7. A controller comprising logic to perform operations to manage a cache memory in a runtime environment, comprising:

determining an update frequency for an object in the runtime environment; and

assigning the object to an unshared cache line when the update frequency exceeds an update frequency threshold; and

store the update frequency for the object in a data field in a header for the object.

8. The controller of claim 7, further comprising logic to:

monitor an update frequency for a plurality of objects in the runtime environment on a periodic basis; and

set the update frequency threshold dynamically as a function of the update frequency for the plurality of objects.

9. The controller of claim 7, further comprising logic to:

pad a data field of the object when the update frequency reaches the update frequency threshold.

10. The controller of claim 7, further comprising logic to:

unpad the data field of the object when the update frequency falls below the update frequency threshold.

11. The controller of claim 7, further comprising logic to:

designate a section of the cache memory as a single object line memory section; and

assign the object to the single object memory section when the update frequency exceeds an update frequency threshold.

12. The controller of claim 7, further comprising logic to:

designate the object as a complete cache line object when the update frequency exceeds an update frequency threshold; and

assign the object to an unshared cache line.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

at least one cache memory; and

controller comprising logic to perform operations to manage the cache memory in a runtime environment, comprising;

determining an update frequency for an object in the runtime environment; and

assigning the object to an unshared cache line when the update frequency exceeds an update frequency threshold and;

storing the update frequency for the object in a data field in a header for the object.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the controller further comprises logic to:

monitor an update frequency for a plurality of objects in the runtime environment on a periodic basis; and

set the update frequency threshold dynamically as a function of the update frequency for the plurality of objects.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the controller further comprises logic to:

pad a data field of the object when the update frequency reaches the update frequency threshold.

16. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the controller further comprises logic to:

unpad the data field of the object when the update frequency falls below the update frequency threshold.

17. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the controller further comprises logic to:

designate a section of the cache memory as a single object line memory section; and

assign the object to the single object memory section when the update frequency exceeds an update frequency threshold.

18. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the controller further comprises logic to:

designate the object as a complete cache line object when the update frequency exceeds an update frequency threshold; and

assign the object to an unshared cache line.

19. A method to manage a cache memory in a runtime environment, comprising:

determining an update frequency for an object in the runtime environment; and

assigning the object to an unshared cache line when the update frequency exceeds an update frequency threshold and;

storing the update frequency for the object in a data field in a header for the object.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

monitoring an update frequency for a plurality of objects in the runtime environment on a periodic basis; and

setting the update frequency threshold dynamically as a function of the update frequency for the plurality of objects.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

padding a data field of the object when the update frequency reaches the update frequency threshold.