Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A cache memory for high latency and out-of-order return of texture data. The present invention includes a texture cache memory that prefetches texture data before it is needed. Further, the texture cache memory counts the number of times a cache line is requested and a number of times the cache line is read, and determines whether the cache line is free by keeping track of the different between the two numbers. The texture cache memory of the present invention is capable of working efficiently in computer systems where there is a long latency from the time the texture data is requested and the time the texture data is available for use. In addition, the present invention is capable of handling texture data which enters into the texture cache memory in a different order from which it was requested. The present invention significantly improves performance of the texture data retrieval subsystem within network based or memory hierarchy based computer systems.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim