System and method for identifying tlb entries associated with a physical address of a specified range

Abstract

A system and method for identifying a TLB entry having a physical address that is within a specified range are disclosed. The method includes obtaining a tentative TLB entry from a page table entry and accessing a physical address associated with the tentative TLB entry. The method further includes comparing the physical address of the tentative TLB entry with a predetermined range of addresses. If the physical address is within the finite range of addresses, an exception is invoked. In response to the exception, the physical address and/or an attribute of the tentative TLB entry can be modified. The tentative TLB entry can then be stored in a TLB.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for determining whether a physical address of a tentative entry of a translation lookaside buffer is within an address range for identification of an exception; and   means for identifying the exception responsive to the means for determining indicating the physical address of the tentative entry of the translation lookaside buffer is included within the address range.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 means for storing the address range.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the means for determining comprises:
 means for comparing the physical address with the address range to determine whether the physical address is included within the address range.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 means for modifying the tentative entry responsive to the exception identified by the means for identifying.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the means for modifying comprises:
 means for altering the physical address of the tentative entry.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the means for modifying comprises:
 means for altering an attribute of the tentative entry.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 means for storing the modified tentative entry in the translation lookaside buffer.   
     
     
         28 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for storing an address range; and   means for invoking an exception if a physical address of a tentative entry of a translation lookaside buffer is within the address range.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 means for storing the tentative entry in the translation lookaside buffer responsive to the physical address of the tentative entry being outside of the address range.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the means for invoking comprises:
 means for comparing the physical address with the address range to determine whether the physical address is included within the address range.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 means for modifying the tentative entry responsive to the exception invoked by the means for invoking.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the means for modifying comprises:
 means for altering the physical address of the tentative entry.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the means for modifying comprises:
 means for altering an attribute of the tentative entry.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 means for storing the modified tentative entry in the translation lookaside buffer.   
     
     
         35 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for storing an address range; and   means for modifying a tentative entry of a translation lookaside buffer if a physical address of the tentative entry of the translation lookaside buffer is within the address range.   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 means for storing the tentative entry in the translation lookaside buffer responsive to the physical address of the tentative entry being outside of the address range.   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the means for modifying comprises:
 means for altering the physical address of the tentative entry.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the means for modifying comprises:
 means for altering an attribute of the tentative entry.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 means for storing the modified tentative entry in the translation lookaside buffer.   
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the address range is associated with at least one of an advanced programmable interrupt controller (APIC) and a graphics address remapping table (GART).