Patent ID: 6560677
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of storing entries in a plurality of ways in an associative cache memory, the method comprising the steps of:designating a first subset of the plurality of ways of the associative cache memory in which to store normal entries having locality of reference program behavior associated therewith; designating a second subset of the plurality of ways of the associative cache memory in which to store transient entries having transient program behavior associated therewith; designating a third subset of the plurality of ways of the associative cache memory in which to store locked entries which remain in the associative cache memory, based on the designation of the first and second subsets of the associative cache memory, wherein the designated ways included in the first, second, and third subsets of the plurality of ways of the associative cache memory are programmable, and wherein the designations of the first and second subsets of the plurality of ways are programmed using a normal subset floor index that identifies the start of the normal subset of the plurality of ways; and a transient subset floor index and a transient subset ceiling index which designate the start and the end of the transient subset respectively.