Least recently used ranking in a multi-port cache

A method comprising:

• maintaining, by a cache controller circuit, a set of rank values corresponding to a plurality of cache ways included in a multi-port cache memory, wherein the set of rank values is used to select a particular cache way of the plurality of cache ways when evicting an entry;
• receiving, by the cache controller circuit, a plurality of memory access requests in a common access cycle;
• determining, by the cache controller circuit, that respective information corresponding to the plurality of memory access requests is stored in respective cache ways of the plurality of cache ways;
• sorting, by the cache controller circuit, the respective cache ways using a corresponding base rank value, from the set of rank values, for each respective cache way and a threshold value, wherein a given rank value is based on a recent use of a respective one of the plurality of cache ways;
• and
• increasing, by the cache controller circuit, the rank value of a particular one of the respective cache ways in response to determining that the base rank value of the particular cache way satisfies the threshold value.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a multi-ported cache memory including a plurality of cache sets, each cache set including a plurality of entries;
• and
• a cache controller circuit configured to, for a particular one of the plurality of cache sets:
• maintain respective rank values for a plurality of cache ways associated with the particular cache set, wherein a particular rank value is based on a recent use of a corresponding one of the plurality of cache ways;
• maintain a threshold value usable to classify the plurality of cache ways associated with the particular cache set;
• in a common access cycle, receive first and second memory access requests for memory locations that correspond to entries in respective first and second cache ways of the plurality of cache ways;
• compare respective base rank values for the first and second cache ways to the threshold value;
• and
• increase the rank value of the first cache way in response to a determination that the base rank value of the first cache way satisfies the threshold value.