Patent ID: 7904647
Filing Date: 2011-03-08
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for offloading a cache memory, comprising the steps of: (A) exchanging a plurality of cache lines between said cache memory and a main memory directly through a controller, said main memory and said cache memory being volatile; (B) exchanging data between a processor and said main memory through said controller without passing through said cache memory; (C) buffering all of said cache lines from said cache memory in said controller in response to an assertion of a signal that indicates a loss of power; (D) generating a plurality of blocks in said controller by dividing said cache lines as buffered in accordance with a RAID configuration; and (E) writing said blocks from said controller directly to a plurality of nonvolatile memories in said RAID configuration after said loss of power, wherein each of said nonvolatile memories has (i) a write bandwidth less than a read bandwidth of said cache memory and (ii) a different independent path to said controller to convey said blocks.