Bridge method, bus bridge, and multiprocessor system

Abstract

In a bridge method, bus bridge, and multiprocessor system for predicting request signals to be received, issuance of and data-caching in response to request signals is based on prediction results, and responses are sent to request signals that are actually issued. A request prediction unit predicts the contents of a request signal to be issued from a device connected to a local bus. A cache hit judgment unit determines whether data to be requested is found in a bridge cache. If the data is not found, a request issuer issues a request signal to a device connected to a system bus, such as a memory, before a request signal is actually issued via the local bus. The data obtained as a result is cached in the bridge cache. When the device connected to the local bus actually issues the request signal a response is immediately made, using the data in the bridge cache. Processing delays caused by forcing devices that request data to wait and corresponding reductions in system performance are reduced.

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