Method and apparatus for history-based movement of shared-data in coherent cache memories of a multiprocessor system using push prefetching

摘要

A method and apparatus are provided for moving at least one of instructions and operand data throughout a plurality of caches included in a multiprocessor computer system, wherein each of the plurality of caches is included in one of a plurality of processing nodes of the system so as to provide history-based movement of shared-data in coherent cache memories. A plurality of entries are stored in a consume after produce (CAP) table attached to each of the plurality of caches. Each of the entries is associated with a plurality of storage elements in one of the plurality of caches and includes information of prior usage of the plurality of storage elements by each of the plurality of processing nodes. Upon a miss by a processing node to a cache included therein, any storage elements that caused the miss are transferred to the cache from one of main memory and another cache. An entry is created in the table that is associated with the storage elements that caused the miss. A push prefetching engine may be used to create the entry.