System and method for adaptation of coherence models between agents

A system for cache coherence comprising:

• a coherence controller unit;
• a first agent coupled to the coherence controller unit, the first agent issues coherency requests to the coherence controller unit;
• a translator unit, implemented at least partially in hardware, coupled to the coherence controller unit, the coherence controller unit issues snoop requests to the translator unit according to a generic coherence model;
• and a second agent coupled to the translator unit, the translator unit issues snoop requests to the second agent according to a native coherence model of the second agent based on translation of the first agent's coherency requests to the generic coherence model and from the generic coherence model to the native coherence model.

A system comprising:

• a coherence controller unit;
• a first agent that uses a first coherence model to issue requests and provide responses;
• a first agent translator, implemented at least partially in hardware, the first agent translator is in communication with the coherence controller unit and the first agent;
• a second agent using a second coherence model, which is at least partially incompatible with the first coherence model, to issue requests and provide responses;
• a second agent translator, implemented at least partially in hardware, the second agent translator is in communication with the coherence controller and the second agent;
• wherein the coherence controller unit receives requests from the first agent translator according to a generic coherence model and the coherence controller unit, in response, issues snoop requests to the second agent translator according to the generic coherence model and the second agent translator translates the snoop request from the generic coherence model to the second coherence model.

A system comprising:

• a first agent that uses a first protocol to issue requests and provide responses;
• a first translator unit, implemented at least partially in hardware, in communication with the first agent, the first translator unit converts outgoing communication, at the first agent, from the first protocol into a generic protocol and converts incoming communication to the first agent from the generic protocol to the first protocol;
• a second translator unit, implemented at least partially in hardware, in communication with the first translator unit;
• and a second agent in communication with the second translator unit, wherein the second agent uses a second protocol to issue requests and provide responses, wherein the second translator unit converts outgoing communication, at the second agent, from the second protocol into the generic protocol and converts incoming communication to the second agent from the generic protocol to the second protocol.