Shanghai Zhaoxin Semiconductor Co., Ltd.

Yue Qin

Weilin Wang

Yingbing Guan

A processor and a method for designating an in-core cache of a hierarchical cache system to perform writing-back and invalidation of cached data are shown. In response to an instruction that is in the instruction set architecture and is executed to designate a designated-level cache within the current core as a target to perform writing-back and invalidation, a decoder of the current core outputs microinstructions. According to the microinstructions, a level-designation request indicating the designated-level cache within the current core is transferred to the hierarchical cache system through the memory order buffer. In response to the level-designation request, the hierarchical cache system recognizes cache lines related to the designated-level cache of the current core, writes modified cache lines (which are obtained from the recognized cache lines) back to the system memory, and then invalidates all the recognized cache lines from the hierarchical cache system.

Processor and method designating an in-core cache of a hierarchical cache system to perform writing-back and invalidation of cached data

A processor and a method for designating a demotion target to demote the demotion target from an in-core cache structure to an out-of-core cache structure is shown. In response to a cache data demotion instruction supported by an instruction set architecture, a first core of a processor operates a decoder to decode the cache data demotion instruction into microinstructions. According to the microinstructions, a demotion target designation request is transferred to a last-level cache (LLC) through a memory order buffer to drive the LLC to query an out-of-core cache table. According to the demotion target's cache status in the first core obtained from the out-of-core cache table, the LLC outputs a snoop request to the first core to snoop on the demotion target and demote the demotion target from the in-core cache structure of the first core to the LLC.

Processor and method for designating a demotion target to be demoted from an in-core cache structure to an out-of-core cache structure

A technology for flushing a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) according to a designated key identification code (designated key ID). An instruction of an instruction set architecture is proposed to flush the TLB according to the designated key ID. A decoder transforms the instruction into at least one microinstruction. According to a flushing microinstruction included in the at least one microinstruction, a designated key ID is supplied to a control logic circuit of the TLB through a memory order buffer, so that the control logic circuit flushes matched entries in the TLB, wherein the matched entries match the designated key ID.

Growing community of inventors

Shanghai, China

Yue Qin