System and method for cache memory line fill using interrupt indication

A method, comprising:

• providing a first memory access request from a data processor;
• initiating a first cache line fill by a cache memory subsystem in response to data requested by the first memory access request not being in a cache memory;
• receiving at an interrupt controller a first event indicator from a first interrupt device;
• providing a interrupt indicator from the interrupt controller based upon the first event indicator to the data processor for handling;
• providing termination information to the cache memory subsystem in response to receiving the first event indicator;
• and
• terminating, by the cache memory subsystem, the first cache line fill prior to filling a cache line in response to receiving the termination information.

A system, comprising:

• a cache memory;
• a cache control circuitry including a cache miss output, the cache control circuitry to provide a cache miss indicator at the cache miss output in response to a cache miss being detected;
• a cache fill circuitry comprising an input coupled to the cache miss output, and configured to read a sequence of data items from an upper-level memory and to fill a cache line of the cache memory with the data items in response to receiving the cache miss indicator at its input;
• and
• line fill termination circuitry including a terminate fill input and configured to terminate a fill of the cache line by the cache fill circuitry in response to receiving an interrupt indicator at the terminate fill input prior to a fill operation being completed.