Abstract: A data processing system includes a plurality of processing units, including at least a local master and a local hub, which are coupled for communication via a communication link. The local master includes a master capable of initiating an operation, a snooper capable of receiving an operation, and interconnect logic coupled to a communication link coupling the local master to the local hub. The interconnect logic includes request logic that synchronizes internal transmission of a request of the master to the snooper with transmission, via the communication link, of the request to the local hub.

Abstract: A system and method for cache management in a data processing system having a memory hierarchy of upper memory and lower memory cache. A lower memory cache controller accesses a coherency state table to determine replacement policies of coherency states for cache lines present in the lower memory cache when receiving a cast-in request from one of the upper memory caches. The coherency state table implements a replacement policy that retains the more valuable cache coherency state information between the upper and lower memory caches for a particular cache line contained in both levels of memory at the time of cast-out from the upper memory cache.

Abstract: A cache coherent data processing system includes at least first and second coherency domains coupled for communication. The first and second coherency domains each include a respective one of first and second cache memories. A master in the first coherency domain selects a scope of an initial broadcast of an operation from among a first scope including only the first coherency domain and a second scope including both the first and second coherency domains based, at least in part, upon a type of the operation. The master then performs an initial broadcast of the operation within the cache coherent data processing system utilizing the selected scope.

Abstract: In a microprocessor having a load/store unit and prefetch hardware, the prefetch hardware includes a prefetch queue containing entries indicative of allocated data streams. A prefetch engine receives an address associated with a store instruction executed by the load/store unit. The prefetch engine determines whether to allocate an entry in the prefetch queue corresponding to the store instruction by comparing entries in the queue to a window of addresses encompassing multiple cache blocks, where the window of addresses is derived from the received address. The prefetch engine compares entries in the prefetch queue to a window of 2M contiguous cache blocks. The prefetch engine suppresses allocation of a new entry when any entry in the prefetch queue is within the address window. The prefetch engine further suppresses allocation of a new entry when the data address of the store instruction is equal to an address in a border area of the address window.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a plurality of processing units each having a respective point-to-point communication link with each of multiple others of the plurality of processing units but fewer than all of the plurality of processing units. Each of the plurality of processing units includes interconnect logic, coupled to each point-to-point communication link of that processing unit, that broadcasts operations received from one of the multiple others of the plurality of processing units to one or more of the plurality of processing units.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling protection of a particular member of a cache during LRU victim selection. LRU state array includes additional “protection” bits in addition to the state bits. The protection bits serve as a pointer to identify the location of the member of the congruence class that is to be protected. A protected member is not removed from the cache during standard LRU victim selection, unless that member is invalid. The protection bits are pipelined to MRU update logic, where they are used to generate an MRU vector. The particular member identified by the MRU vector (and pointer) is protected from selection as the next LRU victim, unless the member is Invalid. The make MRU operation affects only the lower level LRU state bits arranged a tree-based structure and thus only negates the selection of the protected member, without affecting LRU victim selection of the other members.

Abstract: A processing unit for a multiprocessor data processing system includes a store-through upper level cache, an instruction sequencing unit that fetches instructions for execution, at least one instruction execution unit that executes a store-conditional instruction to determine a store target address, a store queue that, following execution of the store-conditional instruction, buffers a corresponding store operation, sequencer logic associated with the store queue. The sequencer logic, responsive to receipt of a latency indication indicating that resolution of the store-conditional operation as passing or failing is subject to significant latency, invalidates, prior to resolution of the store-conditional operation, a cache line in the store-through upper level cache to which a load-reserve operation previously bound.

Abstract: A processing unit for a multiprocessor data processing system includes a processor core including a store-through upper level cache, an instruction sequencing unit that fetches instructions for execution, a data register, and at least one instruction execution unit. The instruction execution unit, responsive to receipt of a load-reserve instruction from the instruction sequencing unit, executes the load-reserve instruction to determine a load target address. The processor core, responsive to the execution of the load-reserve instruction, performs a corresponding load-reserve operation by accessing the store-through upper level cache utilizing the load target address to cause data associated with the load target address to be loaded from the store-through upper level cache into the data register and by establishing a reservation for a reservation granule including the load target address.

Abstract: A processing unit for a multiprocessor data processing system includes a processor core including a store-through upper level cache, an instruction sequencing unit that fetches instructions for execution, a data register, and at least one instruction execution unit coupled to the instruction sequencing unit that concurrently executes multiple threads of instructions. The processor core, responsive to the at least one instruction execution unit executing a load-reserve instruction in a first thread that binds to a load target address in the store-through upper level cache during a reservation hazard window associated with a conflicting store-conditional operation of a second thread, causes a subsequent store-conditional operation of the first thread to a store target address matching the load target address to fail if the store-conditional operation of the second thread succeeds.