초록 ▼

Allocation circuitry for allocating entries within a set-associative cache memory is disclosed. The set-associative cache memory comprises N ways, each way having M entries and corresponding entries in each of the N ways constituting a set of entries. The allocation circuitry has a first circuit whi

Allocation circuitry for allocating entries within a set-associative cache memory is disclosed. The set-associative cache memory comprises N ways, each way having M entries and corresponding entries in each of the N ways constituting a set of entries. The allocation circuitry has a first circuit which identifies related data units by identifying a probability that the related data units may be successively read from the cache memory. A second circuit within the allocation circuitry allocates the corresponding entries in each of the ways to the related data units, so that related data units are stored in a common set of entries. Accordingly, the related data units will be simultaneously outputted from the set-associative cache memory, and are thus concurrently available for processing. The invention may find application in allocating entries of a common set in a branch prediction table (BPT) to branch prediction information for related branch instructions.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A computer-implemented method of allocating entries within a set-associative cache memory having first and second ways, each way having a plurality of entries, wherein corresponding entries of each of the first and second ways comprise respective sets ofentries, the metho

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A computer-implemented method of allocating entries within a set-associative cache memory having first and second ways, each way having a plurality of entries, wherein corresponding entries of each of the first and second ways comprise respective sets ofentries, the method comprising the steps of:identifying first and second data units as being related by a probability of being successively read from the cache memory; andstoring the first and second data units in the corresponding entries in the respective first and second ways, so that the first and second data units are stored in a common set.