Cache Line Status Management for Tag Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cache storage systems face inefficiencies in utilizing available storage space and risk erroneous cache hits due to the re-use of shareable tag locations without proper management, leading to incorrect data retrieval.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that allows selective re-use of shareable tag storage locations while setting specific cache line statuses to prevent misuse after re-use, ensuring accurate data retrieval by inhibiting cache lines from being used in new storage access instructions unless allocated post-re-use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If shareable tag storage locations are re-used to improve cache storage efficiency, then cache storage efficiency is improved, but erroneous cache hits may occur due to incorrect data retrieval
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by setting a cache line status to inhibit new storage access instructions before the shareable tag storage location is re-used. This preventive measure ensures that no new access instructions can reference the invalidated tag, thereby preventing erroneous cache hits while allowing the tag location to be re-used for improving cache efficiency.
2Reliability
If cache line status is set to inhibit usage after shareable tag re-use, then data retrieval accuracy is improved, but cache line utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing a status field in each cache line that can independently indicate whether the cache line is available for new access instructions. This localized control mechanism allows the system to selectively inhibit only those cache lines associated with re-used shareable tag locations, while leaving other cache lines fully functional, thus maintaining high overall cache utilization while ensuring data retrieval accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A method can include allowing re-use of a selected shareable tag storage location and thus updating a first shareable tag portion comprised therein to a second shareable tag portion; identifying one or more cache lines associated with individual tag portions comprising a pointer to the selected shareable tag storage location; and setting a given cache line status for each of the identified cache lines, wherein the given cache line status: a) allows a cache line to continue to be used in relation to a storage access instruction received before said given cache line status was set; and b) inhibits the cache line from being used in relation to a storage access instruction received after the given cache line status is set.