Digital signal processor prefetch buffer and method

摘要

A prefetch buffer and prefetch method. In one embodiment, the prefetch buffer has a main buffer embodied as a direct-mapped cache, and the prefetch buffer includes: (1) an alias buffer associated with the main buffer and (2) a prefetch controller associated with the main buffer and the alias buffer and operable to cause the alias buffer to store potentially aliasing cachelines of a loop body instead of the main buffer.

主权项

1. A prefetch buffer having a main buffer embodied as a direct-mapped cache, said prefetch buffer comprising:
an alias buffer associated with said main buffer; a prefetch controller associated with said main buffer and said alias buffer and operable to cause said alias buffer to store potentially aliasing cachelines of a loop body instead of said main buffer; and a protect register associated with said prefetch controller and operable to store cacheline protect bits for said main buffer, a corresponding protect bit set to protect a cacheline from being overwritten if said loop body is smaller than said main buffer.