Patent ID: 8271728

Claim:
A storage circuit for storing multiple values within a memory hierarchy, wherein the storage circuit comprises: multiple storage tiles having at least one storage element for storing the multiple values; an input interface coupled to a front-most one of the multiple storage tiles for receiving requests for requested ones of the multiple values; a first output interface coupled to the front-most storage tile for providing the requested values from the front-most tile in response to the requests, wherein multiple requests are issued to the input interface without requiring that a previously requested value be provided at the output interface in response to a previous request prior to receiving a subsequent request for another value at the input interface; and a second output interface for connection to a higher-order level of the memory hierarchy for ejecting one of the multiple values other than a value stored in the front-most tile to the higher-order level of the memory hierarchy, in response to one of the at least one storage element of the front-most tile being emptied for storing the particular requested value.