Patent ID: 7415575
Filing Date: 2008-08-19
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a cache having a plurality of cache entries for storing data, the method comprising: storing global replacement information in each of the cache entries; identifying a subset of the cache entries as restricted cache entries; storing restricted replacement information in each of the restricted cache entries, receiving requests for data from a plurality of clients including a restricted client; in response to each request for data, detecting a cache hit or a cache miss, wherein a cache hit is detected in the event that the requested data is stored in any one of the cache entries and a cache miss is detected in the event that the requested data is not stored in any one of the cache entries; in the event that a cache miss is detected in response to a request from the restricted client, selecting one of the restricted cache entries to be replaced with new data, wherein the selection is based on the restricted replacement information; and in the event that a cache miss is detected in response to a request from a client other than the restricted client, selecting any one of the cache entries to be replaced with new data, wherein the selection is based on the global replacement information.