Patent Application
20060041722
This invention relates generally to computing systems and their memory, and more particularly, to storing predictions as well as examining and using one or more caches for anticipating accesses to a memory, such as a system memory.
Prefetchers are used to fetch program instructions and program data so that a processor can readily avail itself of the retrieved information as it is needed. The prefetcher predicts which instructions and data the processor might use in the future so that the processor need not wait for the instructions or data to be accessed from system memory, which typically operates at a slower rate than the processor. With a prefetcher implemented between a processor and system memory, the processor is less likely to remain idle as it waits for requested data from memory. As such, prefetchers generally improve processor performance.
Generally, the more predictions generated by a prefetcher, the more likely that the prefetcher can arrange to have the necessary instructions and data available for a processor, thereby decreasing the latency of a processor. But many conventional prefetchers lack capabilities to manage predictions after they are generated and before a processor requests those predictions. Usually these prefetchers store prefetch data in a single cache memory, which is typically lacking in functionality to limit predictions that are superfluous with respect to those already stored in the cache. Moreover, cache memories of traditional prefetchers are not sufficiently designed for managing predicted addresses stored therein as they are for merely storing data generally.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide a system, an apparatus and a method for minimizing the drawbacks of managing predictive accesses to memory, especially from the time when a prefetcher generates predictions to when a processor requests those predictions.
A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed for storing predictions as well as examining and using one or more caches for anticipating accesses to a memory. In one embodiment, an exemplary apparatus is a prefetcher for managing predictive accesses with a memory. The prefetcher can include a speculator to generate a range of predictions, and multiple caches. For example, the prefetcher can include a first cache and a second cache to store predictions. An entry of the first cache is addressable by a first representation of an address from the range of predictions, whereas an entry of the second cache is addressable by a second representation of the address. The first and the second representations are compared in parallel against the stored predictions of either the first cache and the second cache, or both. In some cases, the range of predictions includes two or more predictions, such as seven sequential or four nonsequential predictions. In one embodiment, each prediction in the first cache has an age within a first age range and each stored prediction in the second cache each has an age within a second age range. In yet another embodiment, the second cache is configured to store more predictions than the first cache. And in some cases, each second representation is adapted to compare against a larger number of predictions in parallel than each of the first representations being compared against predictions in the first cache. In yet another embodiment, the first cache is configured to copy predictions into the second cache.
In another embodiment, an exemplary data return cache memory manages predictive accesses to a memory. The data return cache memory comprises a short term cache memory configured to store predictions having an age less than a threshold and a long term cache memory configured to store the predictions having an age greater than or equal to the threshold. The long term cache memory typically has more memory capacity than the short term cache. The prefetcher also can include an interface configured to detect in parallel, such as during one cycle of operation or over two cycles, whether multiple predictions are stored in either the short term cache memory or the long term cache memory, or both, wherein the interface uses at least two representations of each of the multiple predictions when examining the short term cache and the long term cache memories.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, an exemplary method for managing predictions to access a memory is disclosed. This method comprises generating sequential and nonsequential predictions, and examining a subset of those predictions against multiple cache memories. This examination can be performed either simultaneously or nearly simultaneously over the multiple cache memories. The multiple cache memories include at least a short term cache and a long term cache. The method can continue by disregarding a prediction of the subset if the prediction is stored in any of the multiple cache memories. In another embodiment, a method can further comprise copying an unused prediction from the short term cache to the long term cache after a time during which a processor does not request the unused prediction. In yet another embodiment, the copying of the unused prediction in this method further includes storing valid bits of the unused prediction separate from address bits.
The invention is more fully appreciated in connection with the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Depending on whether a prediction is present or absent, multi-level cache 120 manages the contents of both first level DRC 122 and second level DRC 124 in accordance with caching policies, examples of which are described below. First level DRC 122 can be generally described as a short-term data store and second level DRC 124 can be generally described as a long-term data store, whereby predictions in first level DRC 122 eventually migrate to second level DRC 124 when a processor does not request those predictions. According to an embodiment of the present invention, either first level DRC 122 or second level DRC 124, or both, can store prefetched program instructions and program data based on a predicted address, as well as a processor-requested address. Also, cache filter 110, first level DRC 122 and second level DRC 124 cooperate to reduce latency of providing prefetched program instructions and program data by reducing redundant predictions as well as by speeding up prefetching of predictive information (e.g., by anticipating page opening operations), for example. Note that although the following discussion relates to a multi-level cache memory (i.e., multiple caches), any of the following exemplary embodiments can include a single cache memory.
Cache filter 110 is configured to compare a range of input addresses against each of a number of multiple caches in parallel, where the multiple caches are hierarchical in nature. For example, a first cache can be smaller in size and adapted to store predictions for a relatively short period of time, whereas a second cache can be larger in size and adapter to store predictions for durations longer than that of the first cache. Further the second cache receives its predicted address and corresponding predicted data only from the first cache, according to one embodiment of the present invention. To examine both caches in parallel, especially where the second cache is larger than the first, cache filter generates two representations of each address “looked up,” or examined in the caches. With one representation used for the first cache and the second representation used for the second cache, both caches can be examined simultaneously. One reason for this can be that there are more addresses and entries requiring examination in a larger cache than in a smaller cache. So if both are to be examined at one time, a more efficient technique for examining addresses of the larger cache is needed than that of the smaller cache. The query interfaces discussed below perform these functions.
Prefetcher 100 also includes a speculator 108 for generating predictions. Specifically, speculator 108 includes a sequential predictor (“SEQ. Predictor”) 102 to generate sequential predictions, such as forward sequential predictions, reverse sequential predictions, back blind sequential predictions, back sector sequential predictions, and the like. Also, speculator 108 includes a nonsequential predictor (“NONSEQ. Predictor”) 104 for forming nonsequential predictions. Prefetcher 100 uses these predictions to “fetch” both program instructions and program data from a memory (not shown), and then store the fetched program instructions and program data in multi-level cache 120 before a processor (not shown) requires the instructions or data. By fetching them prior to use (i.e., “prefetching”), processor idle time (e.g., the time during which the processor is starved of data) is minimized.
Nonsequential predictor 104 includes a target cache (not shown) as a repository for storing an association for a preceding address to one or more potential nonsequential addresses that can each qualify as a nonsequential prediction. The target cache is designed to compare its contents against incoming detected addresses for generating nonsequential predictions in an expeditious manner, whereby the target cache is configured to prioritize its stored nonsequential predictions in response to, for example, a hit in multi-level cache 120. Specifically, when multi-level cache 120 provides a predicted address to a processor upon its request, then the stored trigger-target association of which that address belongs is elevated in priority. A “trigger” address is a detected address from which nonsequential predictor 104 generates a nonsequential prediction, with the resulting prediction referred to as a “target” of an unpatternable association formed between the two. Note that a trigger address can also refer to an address that gives rise to a sequential prediction, which also can be referred to as a target address.
Prefetcher 100 also includes a filter 114, an optional prediction inventory 116, an optional post-inventory filter 117, and an optional arbiter 118. Here, filter 114 can be configured to include an inventory filter (not shown) for comparing generated predictions to previously-generated predictions that reside in prediction inventory 116. Prediction inventory 116 provides a temporary storage for storing generated predictions until arbiter 118 selects a prediction to access a memory. Arbiter 118 is configured to determine which prediction of the generated predictions is to be issued for accessing the memory when prefetching instructions and data. In some embodiments, filter 114 can include cache filter 110, which can be configured to compare generated predictions to those previously-generated predictions that have caused program instructions and program data to be already “prefetched” into multi-level cache 120. So if any of the generated predictions is redundant to any previously-generated prediction stored in multi-level cache 120, then that redundant prediction can be voided (or invalidated) so as to minimize the number of predictions requiring governance, thereby freeing up prefetcher resources.
In operation, speculator 108 monitors a system bus as a processor requests access to a memory (“read requests”). As the processor executes program instructions, speculator 108 detects read requests for addresses that contain program instructions and program data yet to be used by the processor. For purposes of discussion, an “address” is associated with a cache line or unit of memory that is generally transferred between a memory and a cache memory, such as multi-level cache 120. An “address” of a cache line can refer to a memory location, and the cache line can contain data from more than one address of the memory. The term “data” refers to a unit of information that can be prefetched, and the terms “program instructions” and “program data” respectively refer to instructions and data used by the processor in its processing. So, data (e.g., any number of bits) can represent “predictive information,” which refers to information that constitutes either the program instructions or program data, or both. Also, the term “prediction” can be used interchangeably with the term “predicted address.” When a predicted address is used to access the memory, one or more cache lines containing that predicted address, as well as other addresses (predicted or otherwise), is typically fetched.
When prefetcher 100 issues predictions, it can append or associate a reference to each prediction. In the case where a prediction is a nonsequential prediction, the reference associated therewith can include a prediction identifier (“PID”) and a corresponding target address. A PID (not shown) identifies the trigger address (or a representation thereof) that caused the corresponding target address to be predicted. This reference is received by multi-level cache 120 when the memory returns prefetched data. Thereafter, multi-level cache 120 temporarily stores the returned data until such time that the processor requests it. During the time that multi-level cache 120 stores the prefetched data, it manages that data for filtering against generated predictions, for ensuring coherency of the data stored therein, for classifying its data as either short term or longer term data, and the like. But when the processor does request the prefetched data (i.e., predictive information), that data is sent to the processor. If data being placed in multi-level cache 120 is the result of a nonsequential prediction, then a reference can be sent to nonsequential predictor 104 for readjusting a priority of nonsequential prediction stored in the target cache, if necessary.
First level DRC 222 includes a DRC1 address store 230 for storing addresses (e.g., predicted addresses), where DRC1 address store 230 is coupled to a DRC1 data store 232, which stores data (i.e., predictive information) and PIDs. For example, prefetched data resulting from predicted address (“PA”) can be stored as data(PA) 232a in association with PID 232b. This notation denotes a predicted address PA having contributed to prefetching data that represents predictive information. When data(PA) 232a is requested by a processor, the corresponding predicted address, PA, and prediction identifier, PID 232b, will be communicated to nonsequential predictor 104 to modify the priority of that predicted address, if necessary. Prediction identifier, PID 232b generally contains information indicating the trigger address giving rise to the PA. Note that a PA generated by nonsequential predictor 104 can also be referred as a target address, as a processor-requested address (and related data), can also be stored in multi-level cache 220. Further note that data(PA) 232a need not necessarily be accompanied by a PID 232b.
Further, both DRC1 address store 230 and DRC1 data store 232 are communicatively coupled to a DRC1 manager 234, which manages the functionality and/or structure thereof. Second level DRC 224 includes a DRC2 address store 240 coupled to a DRC2 data store 242, which stores data in similar form to that of data 232a and PID 232b. Both DRC2 address store 240 and DRC2 data store 242 are communicatively coupled to a DRC2 manager 246, which manages the functionality and/or structure thereof.
In a specific embodiment of the present invention, second level DRC 224 also includes a repository of “valid bits” 244 for maintaining valid bits 244 separate from DRC2 address store 240, each valid bit indicating whether a stored prediction is either valid (and available for servicing a processor request for data) or invalid (and not available). An entry having an invalid prediction can be viewed as empty entry. By keeping bits of valid bits 224 separate from addresses, resetting or setting one or more valid bits is less computationally burdensome and quicker than if DRC2 address store 240 stores the valid bits with the corresponding addresses. Note that in most cases, valid bits for addresses of DRC1 are typically stored with or as part of those addresses.
In operation, DRC1 query interface 204 and DRC2 query interface 214 are configured to respectively examine the contents of first level DRC 222 and second level DRC 224 to determine whether they include any of one or more addresses applied as “input addresses.” An input address can originate from speculator 108 as a generated prediction, from a write-back cache as a write address, or from another element external to multi-level cache 220. Generally an input address, as described herein, is a generated prediction that is compared against the contents of multi-level cache 220 to filter out redundancies. But sometimes the input address is a write address identifying a location of a memory to which data is or will be written. In this case, multi-level cache 220 is examined to determine whether an action is required to maintain coherency among a memory, DRC1 data store 222, and DRC2 data store 224.
DRC1 matcher 206 and DRC2 matcher 216 are configured to determine whether one or more input addresses on input/output port (“I/O”) 250 are resident in DRC1 address store 230 and DRC2 address store 240, respectively. When either DRC1 matcher 206 or DRC2 matcher 216 detect that an input address matches one in first level DRC 222 and second level DRC 224, then an associated handler, such as DRC1 handler 208 or DRC2 handler 218, operates to either filter out redundant predictions or ensure data in multi-level cache 220 is coherent with a memory. Note that DRC1 matcher 206 and DRC2 matcher 216 can be configured to compare a range of input addresses against the contents of first level DRC 222 and second level DRC 224 in parallel (i.e., simultaneously or nearly simultaneously, such is in one or two cycles of operation (e.g., clock cycles), or other minimal number of cycles, depending on the structure of multi-level cache 220). An example of a range of input addresses that can be compared in parallel against the caches is address A0 (the trigger address) and predicted addresses A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, and A7, the latter seven possibly being generated by sequential predictor 102.
When examined simultaneously, matchers 206, 216 that perform such a comparison is said to be performing “a look-ahead lookup.” In some embodiments, a look-ahead look up is performed when a processor is idle, or when not requesting data from prefetcher 100. Also note that although similar in functionality, the respective structures of DRC1 matcher 206 and DRC2 matcher 216 are adapted to operate with DRC1 address store 230 and DRC2 address store 240, respectively, and therefore are not necessarily similarly structured. Examples of DRC1 matcher 206 and DRC matcher 216 are discussed below in connection with
Next, consider situations when query interfaces 204, 214 are performing filtering operations. By comparing a number of input addresses against the contents of multi-level cache 220, and by detecting input addresses that do not match, handlers 208, 218 can take appropriate action to filter out matched predictions (i.e., redundant predictions) while permitting unmatched input address to proceed as generated predictions to fetch predictive information sooner than if filtering was not performed. As such, multi-level cache 220 and its cache filter 210 decrease the latency by more quickly determining which cache line to start fetching. This in turn makes it more likely to decrease latency experienced by the processor because first level DRC 222 and second level DRC 224 caches are generally more likely to contain prefetched predictive information sooner than if predictions either were not compared in parallel or were not filtered out, or both.
DRC1 address store 230 and DRC2 address store 240 each store addresses associated with prefetched data stored in DRC1 data store 232 and DRC2 data store 242, respectively. Each of address stores 230 and 240 stores either the addresses, or an alternative representation of addresses. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an exemplary DRC1 address store 230 is fully associative and is configured to store a complete unique address. For example, bits 35:6 for each address are stored in DRC1 to uniquely identify those addresses. Note that the addresses stored in DRC1 address store 230 can be viewed as including common portions (e.g., tags) and delta portions (e.g., indexes), both of which are used to represent addresses during look-ahead lookup of DRC1 in accordance with at least one embodiment. Further, DRC1 address store 230 and DRC1 data store 232 are configured to store 32 entries of addresses and 64 byte cache lines per address entry of data, respectively. Although prefetched data generally originates from a memory, such as a dynamic random access memory (“DRAM”), it can originate from a write back cache if data in DRC1 data store 232 requires updating.
By contrast, an exemplary DRC2 address store 240 can be composed of four-way set associative entries and can be configured to store base portions (e.g., tags) to represent addresses. Further, DRC2 address store 240 and DRC2 data store 242 are configured to store 1024 entries of addresses and 64 byte cache lines per address entry of data, respectively. DRC2 data store 242 stores prefetched data originating from DRC1 data store 232, and in some implementations can be composed of any number of memory banks (e.g., four banks: 0, 1, 2, and 3).
Although the memory from which predictive information is prefetched is typically a DRAM memory (e.g., arranged in a Dual In-line Memory Module, or “DIMM”), the memory can be of any other known memory technology. Typically, the memory is subdivided into “pages,” which are sections of memory available within a particular row address. When a particular page is accessed, or “opened,” other pages are closed, with the process of opening and closing pages requiring time to complete. So, when a processor is executing program instructions in a somewhat scattershot fashion, in terms of fetching instructions and data from various memory locations of a DRAM memory, accesses to the memory are nonsequential. As such, a stream of read requests can extend over a page boundary. If the next address in the next page is not available, the processor normally must fetch program instructions and program data directly from the memory. This increases latency of retrieving such instructions and data. So by prefetching and storing predictive information that spans multiple pages in multi-level cache 220, then latency related to opening pages is reduced in accordance with the present invention. And because data being prefetched comes from the cache, the latency seen by, or with respect to, the processor is reduced while an accessed page remains opened.
For example, consider that nonsequential predictor 104 correctly predicts that address “00200” is to be accessed following a processor read of address “00100.” Therefore, nonsequential predictor 104 causes a range of lines (e.g., one target address and four predicted address, the number of predictions generate being configurable and defined by a batch, “b”) starting at address “00200” (as well as addresses 00201, 00202, 00203 and 00204, if batch is four) to be fetched in advance of the processor actually accessing address “00200.” When the processor does actually perform a read for address “00200,” look-ahead lookup of multi-level cache 220 quickly determines which cache lines within a specified range following address “00200” have already been prefetched. Since nonsequential transitions in the read address stream can be accompanied by a DRAM page opening operation, the look-ahead lookup allows prefetcher 100 to quickly look ahead in a stream of read requests and determine which address or cache line needs to be fetched. By beginning the fetch quickly, prefetcher 100 can often hide the latency of the DRAM page opening operation, and thereafter provide a sequential stream of cache lines (albeit nonsequential with the trigger address forming the basis for the target address) without incurring a latency penalty on the processor.
First, consider a copying policy used to manage the copying of predictive information from first level DRC 222 to second level DRC 224 as that information ages from short term to long term information. DRC1 manager 234 cooperates with DRC2 manager 246 to transfer data from DRC1 data store 232 to DRC2 data store 242 when that data has been in first level DRC 222 up to a certain threshold of time. Note that the threshold can be constant or can otherwise vary during operation. Typically, aged data can be configured to be transferred whenever there are less than N invalid entries (i.e., available) in DRC1, where N is programmable. In operation, once the data has been copied from short term to long term storage, the entry in first level DRC 222 is erased (i.e., invalidated).
Second, consider an allocation policy for inserting predictive information in first level DRC 222 and second level DRC 224. When inserting predictive information into first level DRC 222, DRC1 manager 234 selects any invalid entries in DRC1 data store 232, excluding locked entries as candidates. If DRC1 manager 234 does not detect any invalid entries into which predictive information can be stored, then the oldest entry can by used to allocate space for an entry. As for allocating entries in DRC2 data store 242, DRC2 manager 246 can use any of a number of ways (e.g., one of four ways) for receiving data copied from first level DRC 222 to second level DRC 224. For example, an index of the predicted address can contain four entries in which to store data. Initially, DRC2 data store 242 allocates any one of the number of ways that are not being used (i.e., invalidated). But if all ways are assigned, then the first one in is the first one out (i.e., the oldest is overwritten). But if the oldest entries have the same age and are valid, DRC2 manager 246 allocates the unlocked entry. Lastly, if all of the entries in the set of ways are locked, then DRC2 manager 246 suppresses writes from first level DRC 222 to second level DRC 224 while maintaining the entry in first level DRC 222 as valid. Again, note that typically second level DRC 224 receives data for storage from only first level DRC 222.
Another policy to which DRC1 manager 234 and DRC2 manager 246 can adhere to relates to maintaining coherency. DRC1 manager 234 maintains first level DRC 222 coherency by updating the data of any entry that has an address that matches the write address to which data will be written. Typically, write-back cache 290 (
Entries 306 of DRC1 address store 305 each include a first entry portion 306a (e.g., a tag) and a second entry portion 306b (e.g., an index). In a specific embodiment, first entry portion 306a and second entry portion 306b are respectively analogous to common address portion 302a and delta address portion 302b. Second entry portions 306b indicate the displacement in terms of address from trigger address (“A0”) 300 to that particular entry 306. So, when DRC1 matcher 312 compares an input address, such as trigger address (“A0”) 300, to entries 306, common portion 302a can be used to represent the common portions of the addresses of group 307. Further, as common portion 302a of address 300 is generally similar to the common portions for addresses (“A1”) 301 through to (“Am”) 303, then only common portion 302a need be used to compare against one or more first entry portions 306a of entries 306. Also, delta portions 302b for addresses (“A1”) 301 through to (“Am”) 303 can be matched against multiple second entry portions 306b of entries 306.
In one embodiment, DRC1 matcher 312 includes common comparators 308 to match common address portions against first entry portions, and delta comparators 310 to match delta address portions against second entry portions. Specifically, common portion 302a is simultaneously compared against first portions 306a for Entry 0 through to the nth Entry, and delta portions 302b are simultaneously compared against second portions 306b for the same entries. In some embodiments, common comparator 308 is a “wide” comparator for comparing high-order bits (e.g., bits 35:12 of a 36-bit address) and delta comparator 310 is a “narrow” comparator for comparing low-order bits (e.g., bits 11:6 of a 36-bit address). Note that although
The output of common comparator 308 and delta comparators 310 are Hbase(0), Hbase(1), . . . Hbase(m) and H0, H1, H2, . . . HN, respectively, where each are either zero (e.g., indicating no match) or one (e.g., indicating match). The results form a hit vector of zeros and ones that are sent to DRC1 hander 314 to take action, depending on whether it is filtering or maintaining coherency. Hit list generator 313 generates a list of hits (“hit list”) indicating which addresses in range “r” (i.e., group 307) reside in DRC1 address store 305. If an address is matched (i.e., a prediction is stored therein), then that address is included in the hit list, whereas an unmatched address (i.e., a prediction is not stored) is excluded from the hit list. This hit list is used to generate predictions or to manage coherency within DRC1 address store 305.
DRC2 matcher 430 includes a number of comparators to compare tag(A0) against entries 410. Generally, any matching address in DRC2 address store 404 shares the same tag(A0), but can differ in relation to another group of bits (e.g., by an index). In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the determination of whether a tag matches any entry within DRC2 address store 404 is generally performed as follows. First, for each bank 406, one of the indexes in that bank is selected to be searched for potential matching addresses. This can vary per bank, as shown in
Hit generator 442 of DRC2 query interface 403 receives the tag comparison results (“TCR”) 422 from DRC2 matcher 430, and further compares those result against corresponding valid bits 450 to generate an ordered set of predictions (“ordered predictions”). Here, tag comparison results from banks 1, 2, 3 and 4 are respectively labeled TCR(a), TCR(b), TCR(c), and TCR(d), each including one or more bits representing whether a tags matches one or more entries 410. Ordered predictions can be an ordered set of predictions that match (or do not match) input address 402. Or, ordered predictions can be a vector of bits each indicating whether an input address has an address that is present in DRC2 address store 404. Note that any number of input addresses 402 can be similarly matched against DRC2 query interface 403 if additional DRC2 matchers 430 are included.
According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, a suitable speculator 108 of
In a specific embodiment of the present invention, prefetcher 100 of
The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. In fact, this description should not be read to limit any feature or aspect of the present invention to any embodiment; rather features and aspects of one embodiment may readily be interchanged with other embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed; obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, they thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.
