Virtual address cache and method for sharing data using a unique task identifier
View Patent ↗A virtual address cache and a method for sharing data. The virtual address cache includes: a memory, adapted to store virtual addresses, task identifiers and data associated with the virtual addresses and the task identifiers; and a comparator, connected to the memory, adapted to determine that data associated with a received virtual address and a received task identifier is stored in the memory if at least a portion of the received virtual address equals at least a corresponding portion of a certain stored virtual address and a stored task identifier associated with the certain stored virtual address indicates that the data is shared between multiple tasks. The method includes: receiving a virtual address and a task identifier for addressing data; determining as to whether the data is stored in a memory based upon a comparison of at least a portion of the received virtual address with at least a portion of an address associated with data stored in memory and based upon a fulfillment of the following criterion: a stored task identifier associated with the certain stored virtual address indicates that the data is shared between multiple tasks.
1. A virtual address cache comprising:
a memory, adapted to store virtual addresses, task identifiers and data associated with the virtual addresses and the task identifiers; wherein only a value of a task identifier is indicative whether data associated with the task identifier is shared between tasks; and wherein the task identifier lacks a portion that is allocated only for indicating whether data is shared between tasks; and
a comparator, coupled to the memory, adapted to determine that data associated with a received virtual address and a received task identifier is stored in the memory if a first criteria is fulfilled or a second criteria is fulfilled;
wherein the first criteria is fulfilled if at least a portion of the received virtual address equals at least a corresponding portion of a certain stored virtual address and a stored task identifier associated with the certain stored virtual address indicates that the data is shared between multiple tasks;
wherein the second criteria is fulfilled if at least the portion of the received virtual address equals the at least corresponding portion of the certain stored virtual address and the received task identifier equals a stored task identifier.
2. The virtual address cache of claim 1 wherein the comparator is adapted to provide the determination within a portion of a single read cycle.
3. The virtual address cache memory of claim 1 further adapted to receive a control signal from a memory controller and in response alter a stored task identifier to a unique task identifier that indicates that data that is associated with the virtual address is shared between multiple tasks.
4. The virtual address cache of claim 1 wherein the stored task identifier indicates that data is shared between multiple tasks if a portion of the stored task identifier has a predefined value.
5. The virtual address cache of claim 1 adapted to store data associated with at least one task out of a group of tasks.
6. The virtual address cache of claim 5 wherein the multiple tasks comprise all the group of tasks.
7. The virtual address cache of claim 5 wherein the group of tasks comprises multiple task sub-groups that share data, wherein each task sub-group that shared data is associated with a unique task identifier value, and wherein the comparator is adapted to compare between at least a portion of the stored task identifier and at least a portion of each unique task identifier.
8. A method for sharing data stored in a virtual address cache, the method comprising:
receiving a virtual address and a task identifier for addressing data; wherein only a value of a task identifier is indicative whether data associated with the task identifier is shared between tasks; and wherein the task identifier lacks a portion that is allocated only for indicating whether data is shared between tasks;
determining that the data is stored in a memory if a first criteria or a second criteria is fulfilled;
wherein the first criteria is fulfilled if at least a portion of the received virtual address equals at least a portion of an address associated with data stored in memory and a stored task identifier associated with the certain stored virtual address indicates that the data is shared between multiple tasks; and
wherein the second criteria is fulfilled if at least the portion of the received virtual address equals at least the portion of the address associated with data stored in memory and the received task identifier equals the stored task identifier.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the stage of determining is completed within a portion of a read cycle.
10. The method of claim 8 further comprising a stage of receiving a control signal from a memory controller and in response altering a stored task identifier to a unique task identifier that indicates that data that is associated with the virtual address is shared between multiple tasks.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein the stored task identifier indicates that data is shared between multiple tasks if a portion of the stored task identifier has a predefined value.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein at least one task identifier indicated that data is shared between a group of tasks.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the group of tasks comprises multiple task sub-groups that share data, wherein each task sub-group that shared data is associated with a unique task identifier value, and wherein the determining comprises comparing between at least a portion of the stored task identifier and at least a portion of each unique task identifier.