Importance

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Abstract

A system and method are provided for efficient handling of streaming-data in a cache memory system having a cache controller and at least one cache with a number of cache-lines, each cache-line including at least one way capable of caching data. In the method a request to cache data is received in cache controller (140), it is determined from the request whether the data is streaming-data and the data is cached. Optionally, cache-line (160) includes data-store (165) in which the data is cached and tag-field (175) in which information about the data is stored, and the method further includes the step of setting streaming-data-bit (200) in the tag-field to identify the data as streaming-data. In one embodiment, determining whether the data is streaming-data involves recognizing a special instruction to cache streaming-data in a request from a processor (110) executing a program or from a compiler compiling a program.

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First Claim