Data storage

Data storage apparatus comprising:

• detection means for detecting a match between a multi-bit reference memory address and a test address, the test address being a combination of a multi-bit base address and a multi-bit address offset, the detection means being configured to:
• means for comparing, as a first comparison, a first subset of bits of the reference memory address with a combination of the corresponding first subset of bits of the base address and the corresponding first subset of bits of the address offset;
• means for comparing, as a second comparison, a second, different subset of bits of the reference memory address with the corresponding second subset of bits of the base address;
• means for detecting the match between the reference memory address and the test address when both of the first comparison and the second comparison detect a respective match;
• and
• means for controlling operation of the data storage apparatus in dependence upon the reference memory address when a match is detected.

A method of data storage operation, the method comprising:

• detecting a match between a multi-bit reference memory address and a test address, the test address being a combination of a multi-bit base address and a multi-bit address offset, the detecting step comprising:
• comparing, as a first comparison, a first subset of bits of the reference memory address with a combination of the corresponding first subset of bits of the base address and the corresponding first subset of bits of the address offset;
• comparing, as a second comparison, a second, different subset of bits of the reference memory address with the corresponding second subset of bits of the base address;
• detecting the match between the reference memory address and the test address when both of the first comparison and the second comparison detect a respective match;
• and
• controlling operation of the data storage apparatus in dependence upon the reference memory address when a match is detected.