US 7,581,065 B2
	Low locality-of-reference support in a multi-level cache hierachy
Dennis M. O'Connor, 12130 E. Via de Palmas, Chandler, Ariz. 85249-3407 (US); and Michael W. Morrow, P.O. Box 647, Mossisville, N.C. 27560 (US)
Filed on Apr. 07, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/101,785.
Prior Publication US 2006/0230235 A1, Oct. 12, 2006
Int. Cl. G06F 12/08 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 711—122  [711/133; 711/136; 711/144; 711/145; 711/159]

10 Claims

1. A method to cache information in a multi-level cache memory hierarchy, comprising: evicting a cache line from a first level of the cache memory hierarchy to a second level of the cache memory hierarchy; and transmitting locality information as a low locality of reference (LLR) bit stored with the cache line in the first level to the second level for storage with the cache line to distinguish the cache line from other cache lines with different stored locality information, wherein the locality information indicates that the probability that the cache line will be used in a predetermined amount of time in the future is less than that of typical cache line data, wherein the second level of the cache memory uses the locality information in replacement and allocation decisions for the second level of the cache memory.