Patent ID: 6016535
Filing Date: 2000-01-18
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a logical cache memory including a plurality of maximal-size pages beginning at a logical cache base memory address, each maximal-size logical cache memory page configured to store data objects of a given size, a method for dynamically reconfiguring one of the logical cache memory pages to store data objects having a size different from the size of the data object previously stored by that cache page, the method comprising the steps of:(a) receiving a data object to be cached having a size smaller than the maximal size;(b) determining whether one of a plurality of logical cache memory pages is already configured to store data objects having the smaller size of the received data object;(c) selecting, when no logical cache memory page is already configured to store data objects having the smaller size of the received data object, one of the maximal logical cache memory pages; and(d) reconfiguring the selected cache page into more than two equally-sized blocks for storing data objects having the smaller size of the received data object.