Patent US4161024A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4161024A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Private cache-to-CPU interface in a bus oriented data processing system

Assignee: Bull HN Information Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1977-12-22
•
Granted: 1979-07-10
•
Expires: 1997-12-22
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A data processing system having a system bus; a plurality of system units including a main memory, a cache memory, a central processing unit (CPU) and a communications controller all connected in parallel to the system bus. The controller operates to supervise interconnection between the units via the system bus to transfer data therebetween, and the CPU includes a memory request device for generating data requests in response to the CPU. The cache memory includes a private interface connecting the CPU to the cache memory for permitting direct transmission of data requests from the CPU to the cache memory and direct transmission of requested data from the cache memory to the CPU; a cache directory and data buffer for evaluating the data requests to determine when the requested data is not present in the cache memory; and a system bus interface connecting the cache memory to the system bus for obtaining CPU requested data not found in the cache memory from the main memory via the system bus in response to the cache directory and data buffer. The cache memory may also include replacement and update apparatus for determining when the system bus is transmitting data to be written into a specific address in main memory and for replacing the data in a corresponding specific address in the cache memory with the data then on the system bus.

Inventors

  • 👤 Thomas F. Joyce
  • 👤 Thomas O. Holtey

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-22 20:51
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F12/00; G06F12/02; G06F12/08; G06F12/0802; G06F12/0877; G06F12/0884

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 181 words
A data processing system comprising: a system bus; a plurality of system units including a main memory, a cache memory, a central processing unit (CPU), and a communications controller all connected in parallel to said system bus, said controller operating to supervise interconnection between said units via said bus to transfer data therebetween and said CPU including memory request means for generating data requests; said cache memory including: private interface means connecting said cache memory directly to said CPU for permitting direct transmission of data requests from said CPU to said cache memory and direct transmission of requested data from said cache memory to said CPU; cache directory and data buffer means for evaluating said data requests and generating a first predetermined output when the requested data is not present in said cache memory; and system bus interface means connecting said cache memory to said system bus for obtaining CPU requested data not found in said cache memory from said main memory via said system bus in response to said first predetermined output from said cache directory and data buffer means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 181 words
A data processing system comprising: a system bus; a plurality of system units including a main memory, a cache memory, a central processing unit (CPU), and a communications controller all connected in parallel to said system bus, said controller operating to supervise interconnection between said units via said bus to transfer data therebetween and said CPU including memory request means for generating data requests; said cache memory including: private interface means connecting said cache memory directly to said CPU for permitting direct transmission of data requests from said CPU to said cache memory and direct transmission of requested data from said cache memory to said CPU; cache directory and data buffer means for evaluating said data requests and generating a first predetermined output when the requested data is not present in said cache memory; and system bus interface means connecting said cache memory to said system bus for obtaining CPU requested data not found in said cache memory from said main memory via said system bus in response to said first predetermined output from said cache directory and data buffer means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 44 words
The data processing system of claim 1 wherein said cache memory also includes system bus monitoring means for producing a second predetermined output when said system bus is transmitting data to be written into a specific address in said main memory from said CPU.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 49 words
The data processing system of claim 2 wherein said cache memory also includes replacement and update means responsive to said second predetermined output for replacing data in a specific address in said cache memory corresponding to said specific address in main memory with the data on said system bus.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3820078A Cited
US4016541A Cited
US3949375A Cited
US3999163A Cited
US3973244A Cited
US3993981A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1982-07-09 1983-01-08 1983-07-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1986-07-09 1987-01-08 1987-07-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1990-07-09 1991-01-08 1991-07-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag