The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Dec. 21, 2004

Filed:

Feb. 08, 2002
Applicant:
Inventor:

Terry Lyon, Fort Collins, CO (US);

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 1/200 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 1/200 ;
Abstract

A unified tag subsystem for a multilevel cache memory system. The unified tag subsystem receives a cache line address including a tag index portion, a high order part and an optional cache line extension field. The tag index portion indexes a tag memory which has way-specific address tags, and lower level flags. A comparator compares the high order part with each way-specific address tag to detect a match. Lower level hit logic determines a hit when comparator detects a match and the lower level flag indicates a valid lower level cache entry; and an upper level hit logic determines a higher level cache hit when the comparator detects a match and the upper level valid is set. In particular embodiments, lower level flag indicates a way of storage where associated data may be found in lower level cache data memory.


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