Multi-processor data coherency
View Patent ↗A method for maintaining coherent data in a multiprocessor system having a plurality of processors coupled to main memory, where each processor has an internal cache which is externally unreadable outside the processor. The method includes requesting data associated with a memory location in main memory and determining if an external cache coupled to an application specific integrated circuit associated with a second processor contains a reference to the requested data. A snoop cycle is performed on the second processor if the external cache has a reference to the requested data, whereupon a determination is made as to whether the requested data has been modified.
1. A method for maintaining coherent data in a multiprocessor system having a plurality of processors coupled to a memory segment, where each processor has a private cache, the method comprising:
tracking data entering and exiting a first processor so as to derive a status of the data in a private cache associated with the first processor;
storing the status in an external tag memory associated with the first processor, the external tag memory non-hardwired to the private cache associated with the first processor;
receiving a data request from a second processor, the data request requesting data associated with a memory location in the memory segment;
determining if the tag memory associated with the first processor indicates that the requested data is held within the private cache associated with the first processor;
snooping the first processor if the tag memory associated with the first processor indicates that the requested data is held within the private cache associated with the first processor;
re-posting the data request if the private cache associated with the first processor indicates it no longer holds the requested data, and setting the tag status for the requested data so as to indicate that the private cache associated with the first processor no longer holds the requested data;
storing data evicted by the first processor in an external cache associated with the first processor;
storing the status of data evicted by the first processor in the external tag memory associated with the first processor;
posting a transaction of the requested data from the external cache if the status indicates that the first processor has evicted the requested data, that the requested data was modified, and that the first processor has not re-requested the data; and
posting a transaction of the requested data from the external cache if the status indicates that the first processor has evicted the requested data and that the requested data was not modified.
2. A method for maintaining coherent data in a multiprocessor system having a plurality of processor segments, each processor segment being in inter-segment communication via a system bus which is coupled to a memory segment, each processor segment including a processor segment bus connected to at least one processor having a private cache, the method comprising:
tracking data entering and exiting a first processor segment to derive a status of data in a private cache associated with a first processor in the first processor segment;
storing the status in an external tag memory associated with the first processor segment, the external tag memory non-hardwired to the private cache associated with the first processor;
receiving a request on the system bus from a processor in a second processor segment for data associated with a memory location in the memory segment;
determining if the tag memory associated with the first processor segment indicates that the requested data is held within the private cache associated with the first processor;
snooping the first processor segment if the tag memory associated with the first processor segment indicates that the requested data is held within the first processor segment;
re-posting the data request if the private cache associated with the first processor indicates it no longer holds the requested data, and setting the tag status for the requested data so as to indicate that the private cache associated with the first processor no longer holds the requested data;
storing data evicted by the first processor in an external cache associated with the first processor segment;
storing the status of data evicted by the first processor in the external tag memory associated with the first processor segment;
posting a transaction of the requested data from the external cache if the status indicates that the first processor has evicted the requested data, that the requested data was modified, and that the first processor has not re-requested the data; and
posting a transaction of the requested data from the external cache if the status indicates that the first processor has evicted the requested data and that the requested data was not modified.
3. A method for maintaining coherent data in a multiprocessor system having a plurality of processor segments, each segment being in inter-segment communication via a system bus which is coupled to a memory segment, each processor segment including a processor segment bus and at least one processor having a private cache, the method comprising:
tracking data entering and exiting a first processor segment via the system bus to derive a status of data in a private cache associated with a first processor in the first processor segment;
storing the status in an external tag memory associated with the first processor segment;
receiving a request on the system bus from a processor in a second processor segment for data associated with a memory location in the memory segment;
determining if the tag memory associated with the first processor segment indicates that the requested data is held within the private cache associated with the first processor;
snooping the first processor segment if the tag memory associated with the first processor segment indicates that the requested data is held within the first processor segment;
re-posting the data request if the private cache associated with the first processor indicates it no longer holds the requested data, and setting the tag status for the requested data so as to indicate that the private cache associated with the first processor no longer holds the requested data;
storing data evicted by the first processor in an external cache associated with the first processor segment;
storing the status of data evicted by the first processor in the external tag memory associated with the first processor segment;
posting a transaction of the requested data from the external cache if the status indicates that the first processor has evicted the requested data, that the requested data was modified, and that the first processor has not re-requested the data; and
posting a transaction of the requested data from the external cache if the status indicates that the first processor has evicted the requested data and that the requested data was not modified.
4. A method for maintaining coherent data in a multiprocessor system having a plurality of processors coupled to a memory segment, where each processor has a private cache, the method comprising:
tracking data entering and exiting a first processor so as to derive a status of the data in a private cache associated with the first processor;
storing the status in an external tag memory associated with the first processor, the external tag memory non-hardwired to the private cache associated with the first processor;
receiving a data request from a second processor, the data request requesting data associated with a memory location in the memory segment;
determining if the tag memory associated with the first processor indicates that the requested data is held within the private cache associated with the first processor;
snooping the first processor if the tag memory associated with the first processor indicates that the requested data is held within the private cache associated with the first processor;
re-posting the data request if the private cache associated with the first processor indicates it no longer holds the requested data, and setting the tag status for the requested data so as to indicate that the private cache associated with the first processor no longer holds the requested data;
determining if the tag status is correct in indicating that the requested data is modified;
re-posting the data request and setting the tag status for the requested line so as to indicate that the first processor no longer holds the requested data, if the tag status incorrectly indicates that the requested data is modified; and
posting a transaction of the requested data from the private cache if the tag status correctly indicates that the requested data is modified.
5. A method for maintaining coherent data in a multiprocessor system having a plurality of processor segments, each processor segment being in inter-segment communication via a system bus which is coupled to a memory segment, each processor segment including a processor segment bus connected to at least one processor having a private cache, the method comprising:
tracking data entering and exiting a first processor segment to derive a status of data in a private cache associated with a first processor in the first processor segment;
storing the status in an external tag memory associated with the first processor segment, the external tag memory non-hardwired to the private cache associated with the first processor;
receiving a request on the system bus from a processor in a second processor segment for data associated with a memory location in the memory segment;
determining if the tag memory associated with the first processor segment indicates that the requested data is held within the private cache associated with the first processor;
snooping the first processor segment if the tag memory associated with the first processor segment indicates that the requested data is held within the first processor segment;
re-posting the data request if the private cache associated with the first processor indicates it no longer holds the requested data, and setting the tag status for the requested data so as to indicate that the private cache associated with the first processor no longer holds the requested data;
determining if the tag status is correct in indicating that the requested data is modified;
re-posting the data request and setting the tag status for the requested line so as to indicate that the first processor no longer holds the requested data, if the tag status incorrectly indicates that the requested data is modified; and
posting a transaction of the requested data from the private cache if the tag status correctly indicates that the requested data is modified.
6. A method for maintaining coherent data in a multiprocessor system having a plurality of processor segments, each segment being in inter-segment communication via a system bus which is coupled to a memory segment, each processor segment including a processor segment bus and at least one processor having a private cache, the method comprising:
tracking data entering and exiting a first processor segment via the system bus to derive a status of data in a private cache associated with a first processor in the first processor segment;
storing the status in an external tag memory associated with the first processor segment;
receiving a request on the system bus from a processor in a second processor segment for data associated with a memory location in the memory segment;
determining if the tag memory associated with the first processor segment indicates that the requested data is held within the private cache associated with the first processor;
snooping the first processor segment if the tag memory associated with the first processor segment indicates that the requested data is held within the first processor segment;
re-posting the data request if the private cache associated with the first processor indicates it no longer holds the requested data, and setting the tag status for the requested data so as to indicate that the private cache associated with the first processor no longer holds the requested data;
determining if the tag status is correct in indicating that the requested data is modified;
re-posting the data request and setting the tag status for the requested line so as to indicate that the first processor no longer holds the requested data, if the tag status incorrectly indicates that the requested data is modified; and
posting a transaction of the requested data from the private cache if the tag status correctly indicates that the requested data is modified.