Address Range Overlap Detection Comparator Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computing systems consume excessive computational power and time in resolving address range overlaps due to the number of comparators required for determining overlaps between address ranges.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a scheme that reduces the number of comparators by solely determining whether the starting address of one range is within the other range, rather than checking both starting and ending addresses, thereby optimizing hardware resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional scheme checking both starting and ending addresses is used for overlap detection, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to the number of comparators required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates redundant comparison operations from the traditional overlap detection algorithm. By proving that checking only starting addresses (S1 against E2 and S2 against E1) is mathematically sufficient to detect all overlap cases, the invention removes the need for checking ending addresses, thereby reducing the number of comparators while maintaining detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing only the necessary comparisons (starting address checks) rather than exhaustive comparisons of all address boundaries. This selective approach checks exactly what is needed to detect overlaps without the excessive action of checking all four address combinations, reducing hardware complexity while preserving measurement precision
2Reliability
If more comparators are used for comprehensive address range comparison, then reliability of overlap detection is improved, but loss of time increases due to additional computational steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes redundant time-consuming comparison operations from the detection process. By eliminating the unnecessary checks of ending addresses against other ranges, the invention reduces the detection time while maintaining reliability through the mathematically sufficient starting address checks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies skipping by bypassing unnecessary comparison steps in the overlap detection algorithm. Instead of systematically checking all address boundaries, the invention skips directly to the critical checks (starting addresses against opposing ending addresses) that are sufficient to detect overlaps, thereby reducing detection time without compromising reliability
3Device complexity
If a reduced number of comparators is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may deteriorate in detecting all overlap cases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameters from checking all four address boundaries (S1, E1, S2, E2) to checking only two critical comparisons (S1 against E2 and S2 against E1). This parameter reduction is mathematically justified as these two checks are sufficient to detect all possible overlap scenarios, thereby reducing device complexity without deteriorating measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing and proving the mathematical sufficiency of checking only starting addresses before implementing the reduced comparator design. This preliminary theoretical validation ensures that the simplified hardware configuration maintains full detection accuracy, eliminating the risk of precision deterioration
4Productivity
If traditional overlap detection methodology is implemented, then productivity is maintained through comprehensive checking, but use of energy increases due to additional computational operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates energy-consuming comparison operations from the traditional detection methodology. By removing the redundant checks of ending addresses, the invention reduces computational energy consumption while maintaining detection throughput through the optimized starting address check approach
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing only the necessary computational operations (two starting address checks) rather than the excessive full comparison set (four address checks). This reduces energy consumption proportionally to the number of eliminated operations while maintaining productivity through the efficiency of the reduced computation set
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes implementing, with a memory of a computing device, a memory controller of the memory of the computing device, a storage device coupled to the computing device and/or an external device coupled to the computing device, a scheme for detecting an overlap between a first address range and a second address range. The first address range includes a first starting address and a first ending address, and the second address range includes a second starting address and a second ending address. The method also includes reducing a number of comparators utilized in the address range overlap detection through solely determining whether the first starting address is within the second address range or the second starting address is within the first address range.