Method and apparatus for preloading translation buffers

Abstract

A method and an apparatus are provided for efficiently managing the operation of a translation buffer. A software and hardware apparatus and method are utilized to pre-load a translation buffer to prevent poor operation as a result of slow warming of a cache.

1 . An apparatus for managing a translation mechanism in a processor architecture comprising: 
 an execution unit for generating an effective address;    a translator, wherein the translator at least translates an effective address into a real address, wherein if a translation is at least not available, then the real address is unavailable;    a miss manager, wherein the miss manager is at least configured to manage unavailable real addresses from the means for translating;    means for pre-loading translation data; and    a storage means, wherein the storage mean at least stores a plurality of general data wherein the plurality of general data is at least referenced by real addresses.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the storage means further comprises a page table, wherein the page table is configured to at least provide a plurality of references to the plurality of general data.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the means for pre-loading further comprises a communication channel between the page table and the translator.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the translation mechanism further comprises a software manager coupled to the translator.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the software manager further comprises: 
 a data port for transporting data there between;    an index table for supplying index data to the translator; and    means for providing management of the means for pre-loading.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the translation mechanism further comprises a hardware manager coupled to the translator.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the hardware manager further comprises: 
 a data port for transporting data there between;    an index table for supplying index data to the means for translating; and    means for providing management of the means for pre-loading.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the translation mechanism further comprises a hardware manager coupled to the translator, wherein the hardware manager further comprises a means for providing management of the means for pre-loading.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the hardware manager further comprises: 
 a data port for transporting data therebetween; and    an index table for supplying index data to the translator.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the translation mechanism further comprises a hardware manager coupled to the translator, wherein the hardware manager further comprises a means for providing a least partial management of the means for pre-loading.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the hardware manager further comprises: 
 a data port for transporting data there between;    an index table for supplying index data to the means for translating; and    means for providing at least partial management of the means for pre-loading.    
   
   
       12 . A method for managing a translation mechanism in a processor architecture comprising: 
 generating an effective address;    translating an effective address into a real address, wherein if a translation is at least not available, then the real address is unavailable;    managing unavailable real addresses from the step of translating;    pre-loading unavailable data; and    accessing a plurality of stored general data wherein the plurality of stored general data is at least referenced by real addresses.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of accessing further comprises accessing a page table, wherein the page table is configured to at least provide a plurality of references to the plurality of general data.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of pre-loading further comprises utilizing a communication channel between the reference table and a translator.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein step of translation further comprises at least utilizing a software manager coupled to the translator.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of at least utilizing the software manager further comprises: 
 transporting data through a data port;    supplying index data from an index table to the translator; and    providing management of the means for pre-loading.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the translation mechanism method further comprises at least utilizing a hardware manager coupled to the translator.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of at least utilizing software management means further comprises: 
 transporting data through a data port;    supplying index data from an index table to the translator; and    providing management of the means for pre-loading.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of translation further comprises at least utilizing a hardware manager coupled to the translator, wherein the hardware management means further comprises a means for providing management of the means for pre-loading.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the utilized hardware management means further comprises: 
 transporting data through a data port;    supplying index data from an index table to the translator.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of translating further comprises: 
 at least utilizing a hardware manager coupled to the translator; and    at least providing a least partial management of the means for pre-loading.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the software management means further comprises: 
 transporting data through a data port;    supplying index data from an index table to the translator; and    providing management of the means for pre-loading.    
   
   
       23 . A computer program product for managing a translation mechanism in a processor architecture, the computer program product having a medium with a computer program embodied thereon, the computer program comprising: 
 computer program code for transporting data through a data port;    computer program code for supplying index data from an index table to the translator; and    computer program code for providing management of the means for pre-loading.    
   
   
       24 . A processor for managing a translation mechanism, the processor including a computer program comprising: 
 computer program code for transporting data through a data port;    computer program code for supplying index data from an index table to the translator; and    computer program code for providing management of the means for pre-loading.