Interleaved cache controllers with shared metadata and related devices and systems

Abstract

Interleaved cache controllers with shared metadata are disclosed and described. A memory system may comprise a plurality of cache controllers and a metadata store interconnected by a metadata store fabric. The metadata store receives information from at least one of the plurality of cache controllers, a portion of which is stored as shared distributed metadata. The metadata store provides shared access of the shared distributed metadata hosted to the plurality of cache controllers

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A memory system, comprising:
 a plurality of cache controllers with circuitry configured to:
 access memory controllers which access memory; 
   a metadata store in communication with the at least one cache controller with circuitry configured to:
 receive information from at least one of the plurality of cache controllers, a portion of which is stored as shared distributed metadata; 
 provide shared access of the shared distributed metadata hosted to the plurality of cache controllers; and 
   a metadata store fabric disposed between the plurality of cache controllers and the at least one metadata store to facilitate the shared access.   
     
     
         2 . The memory system of  claim 1 , wherein the information is related to a task assigned to one of the plurality of cache controllers. 
     
     
         3 . The memory system of  claim 2 , wherein the metadata store fabric further comprises a common logic block to manage the task assigned to one of the plurality of cache controllers. 
     
     
         4 . The memory system of  claim 2 , wherein the metadata store further comprises a logic block to manage the task assigned to one of the plurality of cache controllers. 
     
     
         5 . The memory system of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata store is one of a plurality of metadata stores. 
     
     
         6 . The memory system of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata store is one of a plurality of metadata stores and the number of the plurality of metadata stores corresponds to the number of the plurality of cache controllers. 
     
     
         7 . The memory system of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata store is one of a plurality of metadata stores and the number of the plurality of metadata stores is greater than the number of the plurality of cache controllers. 
     
     
         8 . The memory system of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata store is a static random-access memory (SRAM) array. 
     
     
         9 . The memory system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the tasks assigned to the metadata store comprises maintaining least recently used (LRU) indications. 
     
     
         10 . The memory system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the tasks assigned to the metadata store comprises re-allocating an entry based on the least recently used (LRU) indication when a new system memory address is to be cached. 
     
     
         11 . The memory system of  claim 1 , wherein the shared distributed metadata hosted by the metadata store comprises valid bits and dirty bits. 
     
     
         12 . The memory system of  claim 1 , wherein the shared distributed metadata hosted by the metadata store comprises lock bits pertaining to the plurality of cache controllers. 
     
     
         13 . The memory system of  claim 12 , wherein a lock bit is to assert that the valid bits and dirty bits of a given cache controller are locked and are not changed except by the given cache controller. 
     
     
         14 . The memory system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of cache controllers, upon completion of all transactions relating to a metadata entry, is to update the metadata store of appropriate valid bits and dirty bits and cause a lock bit to be cleared. 
     
     
         15 . The memory system of  claim 14 , wherein a logic block is configured to identify dirty entries for a scrubbing operation wherein the logic block is associated with the metadata store fabric or the metadata store. 
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 connecting a metadata store with a plurality of cache controllers via a metadata store fabric;   receiving information at the metadata store from at least one of the plurality of cache controllers;   storing the information as shared distributed metadata in the metadata store;   providing shared access of the shared distributed metadata to the plurality of cache controllers; and   assigning a task to a logic block wherein the task executed at the logic block operates on the shared distributed metadata.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the metadata store is one of a plurality of metadata stores. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of cache controllers and the metadata store are interconnected via a metadata store fabric. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of cache controllers and a plurality of metadata store are interconnected via a metadata store fabric. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a metadata store fabric comprises a common logic block to manage metadata operations. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the metadata store further comprises a logic block to manage metadata operations. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the metadata store stores metadata in a static random-access memory (SRAM) array. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the task assigned to a logic block comprises maintaining least recently used (LRU) indications. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the task assigned to a logic block comprises re-allocating a clean entry with a higher least recently used (LRU) indication when a new system memory address is to be cached. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the shared distributed metadata hosted by the metadata store comprises tag bits, valid bits, and dirty bits. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 locking the valid bits and dirty bits of a given cache controller via a lock bit indicating that the valid bits and dirty bits of the given cache controller are not be changed except by the given cache controller.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 upon completion of relevant transactions at a given cache controller, updating an appropriate metadata store of appropriate valid bits and dirty bits and cause a lock bit to be cleared.