A cache coherent data processing system includes at least first and second
coherency domains each including at least one processing unit and a cache
memory. The cache memory includes a cache controller, a data array
including a data storage location for caching a memory block, and a cache
directory. The cache directory includes a tag field for storing an
address tag in association with the memory block and a coherency state
field associated with the tag field and the data storage location. The
coherency state field has a plurality of possible states including a
state that indicates that the address tag is valid, that the storage
location does not contain valid data, and that the memory block is
possibly cached outside of the first coherency domain.