APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVE CACHE CLEARING IN A DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM

摘要

In a cache memory unit including a cache directory identifying signal groups stored in an associated cache storage unit, apparatus and method for searching the cache directory during a second portion of the cache memory cycle when the cache directory is not needed for normal operation, to determine if an invalid signal group is stored in the associated cache storage. When an invalid signal group is found in the cache storage, this signal group is rendered unavailable to the data processing unit during the succeeding cache memory cycle without interrupting the normal cache memory operation. 520294