Patent ID: 6848025
Filing Date: 2005-01-25
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A caching device using an N-way replacement mechanism comprising: at least one replacement order list with N positions, the at least one replacement order list arranged with a first-to-replace position at one end and a last-to-replace position at the opposite end, each position containing a way number, N way comparators, a control unit, a replacement order generator, and receiving a hit signal and, in case of a hit, a hit way number; a hit position in which the at least one replacement order list is determined by comparing the hit way number with the way number in each of the N positions in the at least one replacement order list using the N way comparators; the control unit produces replacement order generator control signals using the hit signal and the hit position; the replacement order generator comprises a replace way selector producing a replace way number and N position selectors, each consisting of a multiplexor with at least two inputs; and the position selector for the last-to-replace position which has the hit way number and the replace way number as inputs and the position selectors for the other positions which have its own way number and a replace-later adjacent way number from its adjacent position toward the last-to-replace position as inputs.