Cache management within a data processing apparatus

• Main Authors: BILES STUART DAVID, MANSELL DAVID HENNAH, GRISENTHWAITE RICHARD ROY
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 18.10.2011
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; PHYSICS

A data processing apparatus, and method of managing at least one cache within such an apparatus, are provided. The data processing apparatus has at least one processing unit for executing a sequence of instructions, with each such processing unit having a cache associated therewith, each cache having a plurality of cache lines for storing data values for access by the associated processing unit when executing the sequence of instructions. Identification logic is provided which, for each cache, monitors data traffic within the data processing apparatus and based thereon generates a preferred for eviction identification identifying one or more of the data values as preferred for eviction. Cache maintenance logic is then arranged, for each cache, to implement a cache maintenance operation during which selection of one or more data values for eviction from that cache is performed having regard to any preferred for eviction identification generated by the identification logic for data values stored in that cache. It has been found that such an approach provides a very flexible technique for seeking to improve cache storage utilisation.