Patent ID: 6438658
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method comprising:sequentially and individually performing a write back operation for each cache line within a cache memory; delaying invalidation of each cache line within the cache memory until completion of all write backs required for the cache memory; and performing invalidation of all cache lines within the cache memory within a single cycle which comprising of: enabling memory cells within a cache state array of the cache memory; and writing an invalid state to each memory cell within the cache state array of the cache memory, wherein the enabling of the memory cells within the cache state array of the cache memory occurs during a first phase of a clock cycle and the writing of the invalid state in each memory cell within the cache state array of the cache memory occurs during a second phase of the clock cycle, such that cache line invalidation of each cache line within the cache memory occurs within a single clock cycle formed by the first phase of the clock cycle and the second phase of the clock cycle.