Super-temporal cache replacement policy

Abstract

Cache replacement policies are described. In accordance with the described techniques, a request for data is received and a cache replacement policy controls how a controller responds to the request. The cache replacement policy assigns each cacheline a priority value, which indicates whether the cacheline should be preserved relative to other cachelines, in response to the request being a cache miss that necessitates eviction of at least one cacheline. The cache replacement policy decrements priority values until at least one cacheline achieves a minimum priority value, at which point a cacheline is evicted. The cache replacement policy designates certain cachelines as protected, either via a separate protected indicator or via the cacheline's priority value, which causes unprotected cachelines to be selected for eviction while favoring preservation of protected cachelines in the cache.