Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for use in a cache for suppressing modification of cache line. The system and method includes a processor and a memory operating cooperatively with a cache controller. The memory includes a coherence directory stored within a cache created to track at least one cache line in the cache via the cache controller. The processor instructs a cache controller to store a first data in a cache line in the cache. The cache controller tags the cache line based on the first data. The processor instructs the cache controller to store a second data in the cache line in the cache causing eviction of the first data from the cache line. The processor compares based on the tagging the first data and the second data and suppresses modification of the cache line based on the comparing of the first data and the second data.

Abstract: Techniques for invalidating cache lines are provided. The techniques include issuing, to a first level of a memory hierarchy, a weak exclusive read request for a speculatively executing store instruction; determining whether to invalidate one or more cache lines associated with the store instruction in one or more memories; and issuing the weak invalidation request to additional levels of the memory hierarchy.

Abstract: Techniques for performing cache operations are provided. The techniques include tracking performance events for a plurality of test sets of a cache, detecting a replacement policy change trigger event associated with a test set of the plurality of test sets, and in response to the replacement policy change trigger event, operating non-test sets of the cache according to a replacement policy associated with the test set.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for retrieving information based on cache miss prediction. A prediction that a cache lookup for the information will miss a cache is made based on a history table. The cache lookup for the information is performed based on the request. A main memory fetch for the information is begun before the cache lookup completes, based on the prediction that the cache lookup for the information will miss the cache. In some implementations, the prediction includes comparing a first set of bits stored in the history table with a second set of bits stored in the history table. In some implementations, the prediction includes comparing at least a portion of an address of the request for the information with a set of bits in the history table.

Abstract: Techniques for performing cache operations are provided. The techniques include, recording an entry indicating that a cache line is exclusive-upgradeable; removing the cache line from a cache; and converting a request to insert the cache line into the cache into a request to insert the cache line in the cache in an exclusive state.

Abstract: Techniques for performing cache operations are provided. The techniques include recording an indication that providing exclusive access of a first cache line to a first processor is deemed problematic; detecting speculative execution of a store instruction by the first processor to the first cache line; and in response to the detecting, refusing to provide exclusive access of the first cache line to the first processor, based on the indication.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for use in a cache for suppressing modification of cache line. The system and method includes a processor and a memory operating cooperatively with a cache controller. The memory includes a coherence directory stored within a cache created to track at least one cache line in the cache via the cache controller. The processor instructs a cache controller to store a first data in a cache line in the cache. The cache controller tags the cache line based on the first data. The processor instructs the cache controller to store a second data in the cache line in the cache causing eviction of the first data from the cache line. The processor compares based on the tagging the first data and the second data and suppresses modification of the cache line based on the comparing of the first data and the second data.

Abstract: Techniques for performing cache operations are provided. The techniques include tracking re-references for cache lines of a cache, detecting that eviction is to occur, and selecting a cache line for eviction from the cache based on a re-reference indication.

Abstract: Techniques for performing cache operations are provided. The techniques include for a memory access class, detecting a threshold number of instances in which cache lines in an exclusive state in a cache are changed to an invalid state or a shared state without being in a modified state; in response to the detecting, treating first coherence state agnostic requests for cache lines for the memory access class as requests for cache lines in a shared state; detecting a reset event for the memory access class; and in response to detecting the reset event, treating second coherence state agnostic requests for cache lines for the memory class as coherence state agnostic requests.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for maintaining insertion policies of a lower-level cache. Techniques are described for selecting, based on metadata of an evicted data block received from an upper-level cache, an insertion policy out of the insertion policies. Then, determining, based on the selected insertion policy, whether to insert the data block into the lower-level cache. If it is determined to insert, the data block is inserted into the lower-level cache according to the selected insertion policy. Techniques for dynamically updating the insertion policies of the lower-level cache are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for performing cache operations are provided. The techniques include for a memory access class, detecting a threshold number of instances in which cache lines in an exclusive state in a cache are changed to an invalid state or a shared state without being in a modified state; in response to the detecting, treating first coherence state agnostic requests for cache lines for the memory access class as requests for cache lines in a shared state; detecting a reset event for the memory access class; and in response to detecting the reset event, treating second coherence state agnostic requests for cache lines for the memory class as coherence state agnostic requests.

Abstract: Techniques for performing cache operations are provided. The techniques include recording an indication that providing exclusive access of a first cache line to a first processor is deemed problematic; detecting speculative execution of a store instruction by the first processor to the first cache line; and in response to the detecting, refusing to provide exclusive access of the first cache line to the first processor, based on the indication.

Abstract: Techniques for performing cache operations are provided. The techniques include, recording an entry indicating that a cache line is exclusive-upgradeable; removing the cache line from a cache; and converting a request to insert the cache line into the cache into a request to insert the cache line in the cache in an exclusive state.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for use in a cache for suppressing modification of cache line. The system and method includes a processor and a memory operating cooperatively with a cache controller. The memory includes a coherence directory stored within a cache created to track at least one cache line in the cache via the cache controller. The processor instructs a cache controller to store a first data in a cache line in the cache. The cache controller tags the cache line based on the first data. The processor instructs the cache controller to store a second data in the cache line in the cache causing eviction of the first data from the cache line. The processor compares based on the tagging the first data and the second data and suppresses modification of the cache line based on the comparing of the first data and the second data.

Abstract: Techniques for performing cache operations are provided. The techniques include tracking performance events for a plurality of test sets of a cache, detecting a replacement policy change trigger event associated with a test set of the plurality of test sets, and in response to the replacement policy change trigger event, operating non-test sets of the cache according to a replacement policy associated with the test set.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for retrieving information based on cache miss prediction. A prediction that a cache lookup for the information will miss a cache is made based on a history table. The cache lookup for the information is performed based on the request. A main memory fetch for the information is begun before the cache lookup completes, based on the prediction that the cache lookup for the information will miss the cache. In some implementations, the prediction includes comparing a first set of bits stored in the history table with a second set of bits stored in the history table. In some implementations, the prediction includes comparing at least a portion of an address of the request for the information with a set of bits in the history table.

Abstract: Techniques for performing cache operations are provided. The techniques include tracking re-references for cache lines of a cache, detecting that eviction is to occur, and selecting a cache line for eviction from the cache based on a re-reference indication.

Abstract: A system and method for omission of probes when requesting data stored in memory where the omission includes creating a coherence directory entry, determining whether cache line data for the coherence directory entry is a trackable pattern, and setting an indication indicating that one or more reads for the cache line data can be serviced without sending probes. A system and method for providing extra data storage capacity in a coherence directory where the extra data storage capacity includes actively tracking cache lines, invalidating the cache line and informing the coherence directory, determining whether data is a trackable pattern, updating the coherence directory that the cache line is no longer in cache, updating the coherence directory to indicate cache line data is zero, and servicing reads to the cache line from the coherence directory and supplying the specified data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for use in a cache for suppressing modification of cache line. The system and method includes a processor and a memory operating cooperatively with a cache controller. The memory includes a coherence directory stored within a cache created to track at least one cache line in the cache via the cache controller. The processor instructs a cache controller to store a first data in a cache line in the cache. The cache controller tags the cache line based on the first data. The processor instructs the cache controller to store a second data in the cache line in the cache causing eviction of the first data from the cache line. The processor compares based on the tagging the first data and the second data and suppresses modification of the cache line based on the comparing of the first data and the second data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for maintaining insertion policies of a lower-level cache. Techniques are described for selecting, based on metadata of an evicted data block received from an upper-level cache, an insertion policy out of the insertion policies. Then, determining, based on the selected insertion policy, whether to insert the data block into the lower-level cache. If it is determined to insert, the data block is inserted into the lower-level cache according to the selected insertion policy. Techniques for dynamically updating the insertion policies of the lower-level cache are also disclosed.