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AssigneeApple Computer, Inc.
InventorDavid V. James
Estimating the term…
In a multi-processor system having cache-coherent sharing list, initiating a request to obtain a read-write copy updates a head of a cache sharing list from read-only status to read-write status. If another cache joins the list before the updating transaction has been completed, the present invention allows a read-only copy and a read-write copy of the head to exist concurrently in two list locations. When prepending to each of the copies coded command sets are applied based on the different states of the copies, resulting in two prepending groups, a first group associated with the read-only copy and a second group associated with the read-write copy. The method then allows servicing the read-only group while the read-write group waits. After all services to the read-only group have been performed, the head is modified and stale cache copies are invalidated. The read-write group is then serviced.
In a multi-processor computer system, a method for updating a cache sharing list having at lease one entry including a head entry, comprising the steps of:
In a multi-processor computer system having a cache sharing list of at least one entry including a head entry, a method for updating said head when at least one additional entry concurrently enters the list after a request for updating is generated, comprising the steps of:
In a multi-processor computer system, an apparatus for updating a cache sharing list having at lease one entry including a head entry, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.