Data processing system with prefetching means and data prefetching method

Abstract

The dismissing of cached data that is not expected to be further used is predicted instead of predicting future I / O operations and then data is fetched from the main memory to replace the dismissed data in the cache. Thus, firstly a location in a cache memory containing data, which is expected not to be further used, is identified, followed by performing a prefetch operation in order to request new data to refill the above location in the cache memory. Therefore, a data processing system comprises at least one processor (12) for processing streaming data, at least one cache memory (200) having a plurality of cache blocks (210), wherein one of said cache memories (200) is associated to each of said processors (12), and at least one cache controller (300) for prefetching data into said cache memory (200), wherein one of said cache controllers (300) is associated to each of said cache memories (200). Said cache controller (300) comprises determining means (350) for identifying at least one location in said cache memory (200) containing first data, which is predicted to be dismissible without penalty and prefetch means (320) for issuing a prefetch operation replacing said first data at said location with second data, which fit said location.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a data processing system optimized for processing data streaming applications, a method of prefetching data to a cache memory in a data processing environment optimized for processing data streaming applications, and a A semiconductor device for use in a data processing environment optimized for processing data streaming applications. Background technique [0002] Due to the growing demand for data streaming applications, especially the design results of data processing systems equipped for data streaming applications, such as high-definition digital TV, set-top boxes with time-shifting capabilities, 3D games, video conferencing, MPEG-4 applications and the like have gradually increased in recent years. [0003] In streaming, successive operations are performed on a stream of data by different processors. For example, the first data stream may include pixel values ​​of the image, which are processed by the first proce...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0013] Running caches at high clock speeds is difficult for caches with high associativity

On the other hand, low associativity results in fewer victim locations to choose from, increasing the danger of deleting useful data

LRU based approach is less efficient for these caches

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