Patent ID: 7340568

Claim:
A method for reducing the number of rejected snoop requests comprising the steps of: receiving a snoop request; storing information about said snoop request in a first unit for up to a maximum of n clock cycles thereby expanding a time to respond to said snoop request; dispatching said snoop request; removing said information about said snoop request in said first unit upon a successful dispatch of said snoop request; receiving a result of said dispatched snoop request along with a counter value indicating a number of clock cycles said information about said snoop request resided in said first unit; examining said counter value; storing said result in said second unit for a period of n clock cycles less said number of clock cycles said information about said snoop request resided in said first unit; and sending said result to said interconnect after said period of n clock cycles less said number of clock cycles said information about said snoop request resided in said first unit has transpired.