초록 ▼

A method of limiting, in a digital processor, low-priority utilization of a resource in favor of high-priority utilization of the resource comprises determining a value predictive of high-priority utilization of the resource. Low-priority utilization of the resource is inhibited if the determined pr

A method of limiting, in a digital processor, low-priority utilization of a resource in favor of high-priority utilization of the resource comprises determining a value predictive of high-priority utilization of the resource. Low-priority utilization of the resource is inhibited if the determined predictive value is greater than a threshold. On the other hand, if the predictive value is less than or equal to the threshold, then low-priority utilization of the resource is allowed. In a preferred embodiment, the predictive value is derived by counting the number of actual high-priority utilizations of the resource out of the last N opportunities in which the resource could have been utilized for a high-priority need. Preferably, recent utilizations are given more weight than others. In a preferred embodiment, the resource comprises one of main memory, instruction cache memory, or data cache memory. High-priority utilization comprises high-priority access to memory and low-priority utilization comprises memory prefetching. Low priority utilizations are throttled when the threshold is exceeded. Counting and comparing are done with a shift register, counting logic, and a comparator; or with a counter and a comparator; or with two shift registers in which case no comparator is needed.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [2.]2. In a computer system, a method for arbitrating among a plurality of requesters of resources, comprising the steps of:maintaining a history of utilization by a first requester of a resource during program execution;predicting, based on the utilization history, utilizatio

[ What is claimed is:] [2.]2. In a computer system, a method for arbitrating among a plurality of requesters of resources, comprising the steps of:maintaining a history of utilization by a first requester of a resource during program execution;predicting, based on the utilization history, utilization of the resource by the first requester; andinhibiting competing requesters of the first requester if a high utilization of the resource by the first requester is predicted.