Data processing system with prefetching means

The dismissing of cached data that is not expected to be further used is predicted instead of predicting future I/O operations and then data is fetched from the main memory to replace the dismissed data in the cache. Thus, firstly a location in a cache memory containing data, which is expected not t...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser: VAN EIJNDHOVEN JOSEPHUS THEODORUS J, RUTTEN MARTIJN J, POL EVERT-JAN D
Format: Patent
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:Volltext bestellen
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:The dismissing of cached data that is not expected to be further used is predicted instead of predicting future I/O operations and then data is fetched from the main memory to replace the dismissed data in the cache. Thus, firstly a location in a cache memory containing data, which is expected not to be further used, is identified, followed by performing a prefetch operation in order to request new data to refill the above location in the cache memory. Therefore, a data processing system comprises at least one processor ( 12 ) for processing streaming data, at least one cache memory ( 200 ) having a plurality of cache blocks ( 210 ), wherein one of said cache memories ( 200 ) is associated to each of said processors ( 12 ), and at least one cache controller ( 300 ) for prefetching data into said cache memory ( 200 ), wherein one of said cache controllers ( 300 ) is associated to each of said cache memories ( 200 ). Said cache controller ( 300 ) comprises determining means ( 350 ) for identifying at least one location in said cache memory ( 200 ) containing first data, which is predicted to be dismissible without penalty and prefetch means ( 320 ) for issuing a prefetch operation replacing said first data at said location with second data, which fit said location.