Shared read - using a request tracker as a temporary read cache

A method to be performed by a memory controller in a system comprising a memory, a plurality of cores to send read and write requests to the memory controller, and a common request tracker (CRT) to store memory request addresses and data, the method comprising:

• receiving a shared read request (SRR) when a first core is not yet identified;
• allocating a CRT entry and storing the SRR therein, marking it as a first, and setting a share distance to one;
• sending a read request to a memory address indicated by the SRR;
• when read data returns from the memory, storing the read data in the CRT entry, sending the read data to the first core, and awaiting receipt, unless already received, of another SRR from a second core to a same address as the SRR;
• then, sending the read data to the second core;
• and
• deallocating the CRT entry being used by the SRR.

A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon to which a memory controller in a system comprising a memory, a plurality of cores to send read and write requests to the memory controller, and a common request tracker (CRT) to store memory request addresses and data, is to respond by:

• receiving a shared read request (SRR) when a first core is not yet identified;
• allocating CRT entry and storing the SRR therein, marking it as a first, and setting a share distance to one;
• sending a read request to a memory address indicated by the SRR;
• when read data returns from the memory, storing the read data in the CRT entry, sending the read data to the first core, and awaiting receipt, unless already received, of another SRR from a second core to a same address as the SRR;
• then, sending the read data to the second core;
• and
• deallocating the CRT entry being used by the SRR.