Memory hub and access method having internal row caching

(51) Int. CI. G06F 13/00

(52) U.S. CI

(2006.01)

711/154; 711/118; 711/105;

711/109; 345/557

(58) Field of Classification Search 711/154,

711/118, 105, 109; 709/214; 345/557 See application file for complete search history.

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(Continued)

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Primary Examiner—Hong Kim

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Dorsey & Whitney, LLP

A computer system includes a controller coupled to a plurality of memory modules each of which includes a memory hub and a plurality of memory devices. The memory hub includes a row cache memory that stores data as they are read from the memory devices. When the memory module is not being accessed by the controller, a sequencer in the memory module generates requests to read data from a row of memory cells. The data read responsive to the generated read requests are also stored in the row cache memory. As a result, read data in the row being accessed may be stored in the row cache memory even though the data was not previously read from the memory device responsive to a memory request from the controller.

18 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets

Page 2

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