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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 25, 2005
Filed:
Sep. 27, 2002
Jack Benkual, Cupertino, CA (US);
William C. Athas, San Jose, CA (US);
Joseph P. Bratt, San Jose, CA (US);
Ron Ray Hochsprung, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Jack Benkual, Cupertino, CA (US);
William C. Athas, San Jose, CA (US);
Joseph P. Bratt, San Jose, CA (US);
Ron Ray Hochsprung, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates pipelining cache coherence operations in a shared memory multiprocessor system. During operation, the system receives a command to perform a memory operation from a processor in the shared memory multiprocessor system. This command is received at a bridge that is coupled to the local caches of the processors in the shared memory multiprocessor system. If the command is directed to a cache line that is subject to an in-progress pipelined cache coherency operation, the system delays the command until the in-progress pipelined cache coherency operation completes. Otherwise, the system reflects the command to local caches of other processors in the shared memory multiprocessor system. The system then accumulates snoop responses from the local caches of the other processor and sends the accumulated snoop response to the local caches of other processors in the shared memory multiprocessor system.