Patent ID: 7949831
Filing Date: 2011-05-24
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus that maintains load-marks on cache lines, comprising: a cache that accommodates a set of cache lines, wherein each cache line includes metadata for load-marking the cache line; a local cache controller for the cache; wherein upon determining that a remote cache controller has made a request for a cache line that would cause the local cache controller to invalidate a copy of the cache line in the cache, the local cache controller determines if there is a load-mark in the metadata for the copy of the cache line; if not, the local cache controller invalidates the copy of the cache line; otherwise, the local cache controller sends a signal to the remote cache controller to indicate a denial of the invalidation of the cache line and retains the copy of the cache line and the load-mark in the metadata for the copy of the cache line; wherein the load-mark is placed for a thread to indicate that no other threads can store to the cache line.