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:
Aug. 05, 2008
Filed:
Aug. 17, 2005
Kevin Safford, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Rohit Bhatia, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Karl Brummel, Chicago, IL (US);
Kevin Safford, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Rohit Bhatia, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Karl Brummel, Chicago, IL (US);
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to an improved microprocessor having a memory system with several caches that can be operated to provide virtual memory. Among the caches included in the microprocessor are conventional caches that store data and instructions to be utilized by the processes being performed by the microprocessor, and that are typically arranged in a cache hierarchy, as well as one or more translation lookaside buffer (TLB) caches that store a limited number of virtual page translations. The improved microprocessor also has an additional cache that serves to store a virtual hash page table (VHPT) that is accessed when TLB misses occur. The introduction of this VHPT cache eliminates or at least reduces the need for the microprocessor to look for information within the caches of the cache hierarchy or in other memory (e.g., main memory) outside of the microprocessor when TLB misses occur, and consequently enhances microprocessor speed.