System and method for performing memory operations in a computing system

A method for performing memory operations in a computing system, comprising:

• transitioning a cache line associated with a memory location from a conventional MESI coherency protocol to one of a plurality of transactional coherency states associated with a Transaction operating state of a processor;
• performing updates to the cache line associated with the memory location, the updates to the cache line not being visible to other processors in the computing system;
• identifying the cache line with a transaction coherency state according to the update performed;
• processing MESI coherency protocol messages received from other processors;
• wherein processing of MESI coherency protocol messages causes updates to the cache line to be aborted.

A computer readable storage medium including code for performing memory operations in a computing system, the code operable to:

• transition a cache line associated with a memory location from a conventional MESI coherency protocol to one of a plurality of transactional coherency states associated with a Transaction operating state of a processor;
• perform updates to the cache line associated with the memory location, the updates to the cache line not being visible to other processors in the computing system;
• identify the cache line with a transaction coherency state according to the update performed;
• receive an event causing an abort of the cache line update;
• transition to an Abort operating state in response to the event;
• discard any changes made to the cache line;
• transition the cache line associated with the memory location from one of a plurality of transactional coherency states associated with the Transaction operating state to the conventional MESI coherency protocol;
• restore the cache line to contents stored therein prior to any updates.

A system for performing memory operations in a computing system, comprising:

• means for transitioning a cache line associated with a memory location from a conventional MESI coherency protocol to one of a plurality of transactional coherency states associated with a Transaction operating state of a processor;
• means for performing updates to the cache line associated with the memory location, the updates to the cache line not being visible to other processors in the computing system;
• means for identifying the cache line with a transaction coherency state according to the update performed;
• means for receiving an event causing an abort of the cache line update;
• means for transitioning to an Abort operating state in response to the event;
• means for discarding any changes made to the cache line;
• means for transitioning the cache line associated with the memory location from one of a plurality of transactional coherency states associated with the Transaction operating state to the conventional MESI coherency protocol;
• means for restoring the cache line to contents stored therein prior to any updates.