The present invention discloses a processor system comprising a processor (31) and at least a first memory (32) and a second memory (34, 36, 37). The first memory (32) is normally faster than the second one, and means for memory allocation (38, 41, 48) perform the periodically static allocation of data into the first memory (32). The means for memory allocation (38, 41, 48) are run-time updateable by software. An execution profiling section (39) is provided for continuously or intermittently pro...

A cache system is provided which includes a cache memory and a cache refill mechanism which allocates one or more of a set of cache partitions in the cache memory to an item in dependence on the address of the item in main memory. This is achieved in one of the described embodiments by including with the address of an item a set of partition selector bits which allow a partition mask to be generated to identify into which cache partition the item may be loaded.

The present invention utilizes a cache which stores various decoded instructions, or parcels, so that these parcels can be made available to the execution units without having to decode a microprocessor instruction, such as a CISC instruction, or the like. This increases performance by bypassing the fetch/decode pipeline stages on the front end of the microprocessor by using a parcel cache to store previously decoded instructions. The parcel cache is coupled to the microprocessor fetch/decode un...

According to one embodiment a system is disclosed. The system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a first cache memory coupled to the CPU to store only data for vital loads that are to be immediately processed at the CPU, a second cache memory coupled to the CPU to store data for semi-vital loads to be processed at the CPU, and a third cache memory coupled to the CPU, the first cache memory and the second cache memory to store non-vital loads to be processed at the CPU.

A method, apparatus, and system for configuring an address bit in a cache formed on an integrated circuit. The method, apparatus, and system include the ability to configure the address bit as either a tag bit or a set index bit and reconfigure the address bit.

A system and method are provided for bypassing cache memory when reading data from system memory particularly when the primary memory could include memory types where the read operation mixes non-data with data. A system and method are provided for bypassing and invalidating cache memory when writing data to system memory particularly when the primary memory could include memory types where the write operation mixes non-data with data.

A cache management system and method monitors and controls the contents of cache memory coupled to at least one host and at least one data storage device. A cache indexer maintains a current index of data elements which are stored in cache memory. A sequential data access indicator, responsive to the cache index and to a user selectable sequential data access threshold, determines that a sequential data access is in progress for a given process and provides an indication of the same. The system ...

A cache architecture (16) for use in a processing device includes a RAM set cache for caching a contiguous block of main memory (20). The RAM set cache can be used in conjunction with other cache types, such as a set associative cache or a direct mapped cache. A register (32) defines a starting address for the contiguous block of main memory (20). The data array (38) associated with the RAM set may be filled on a line-by-line basis, as lines are requested by the processing core, or on a set-fill...

Portions of a cache are flushed in stages. An exemplary flushing of the present invention comprises flushing a first portion, performing operations other than a flush, and then flushing a second portion of the cache. The first portion may be disabled after it is flushed. The cache may be functionally divided into portions prior to a flush, or the portions may be determined in part by an abort signal. The operations may access either the cache or the memory. The operations may involve direct memo...

A lexical cache comprises a collection of lexical containers, such as tuned hash table, that are organized according to the length of the keys to be looked up in the lexical cache. In one embodiment, the word is compressed to generate a key. Based on the length of the key and optionally a prefix, a hash table is identified from among the collection of hash tables. A hash value is computed for the key, and the hash table is searched for a slot holding a key value matching the key. If a slot havin...