Unified cache port consolidation

摘要

A method and apparatus consolidate ports on a unified cache. The apparatus uses plurality of access connections with a single port of a memory. The apparatus comprises multiplexor and a logic circuit. The multiplexor is connected to the plurality of access connections. The multiplexor has a control input and a memory connection. The logic circuit produces an output signal tied to the control input. In another form, the apparatus comprises means for selectively coupling a single one of the plurality of access connections to the memory, and a means for controlling the means for coupling. Preferably, the plurality of access connections comprise a data connection and an instruction connection, and the memory is cache memory. The method uses a single memory access connection for a plurality of access types. The method accepts one or more memory access requests on one or more respective ones of a plurality of connections. If there are memory access requests simultaneously active on two or more of the plurality of connections, then the method selects one of the simultaneously active connections and connects the selected connection to the single memory access connection.