Processing device with address translation probing and methods

A data processing device comprising:

• a first processing unit;
• a second processing unit;
• a page table of a memory shared by the first and second processing units;
• a first translation look-aside buffer (TLB) configured to store selected address translations of the page table for use by the first processing unit;
• a second TLB configured to store selected address translations of the page table for use by the second processing unit;
• and
• the processing device configured to probe the second TLB for an address translation requested by the first processing unit upon a condition that the requested address translation was not found in the first TLB.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions for execution by a general purpose computer to facilitate manufacture of an integrated circuit that includes:

• a first processing unit;
• a second processing unit;
• a page table of a memory shared by the first and second processing units;
• a first translation look-aside buffer (TLB) hierarchy configured to store selected address translations of the page table for use by the first processing unit;
• a second TLB hierarchy configured to store selected address translations of the page table for use by the second processing unit;
• and
• the processing device configured to probe the second TLB hierarchy for an address translation requested by the first processing unit upon a condition that the requested address translation was not found in the first TLB hierarchy.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions for execution by a general purpose computer to facilitate manufacture of an integrated circuit that includes:

• a first processing unit;
• a second processing unit;
• a page table of a memory shared by the first and second processing units;
• a first translation look-aside buffer (TLB) configured to store selected address translations of the page table for use by the first processing unit;
• a second TLB configured to store selected address translations of the page table for use by the second processing unit;
• and
• the processing device configured to probe the second TLB for an address translation requested by the first processing unit upon a condition that the requested address translation was not found in the first TLB.