Address Translation Storage Pending Request Interception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data processing systems face capacity and bandwidth issues in address translation, particularly in systems-level memory management units with translation control units and translation lookaside buffers, where the time required for lookups can become a bottleneck, and increasing capacity adds complexity and size to the device.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of pending request storage that intercepts requests when an earlier request's response is expected to provide the necessary address translation, relieving capacity pressure without degrading performance by temporarily holding back requests until the response is received, and forwarding requests to memory if not stored in address translation storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the address translation storage capacity is increased to handle more translation requests, then the translation capability is improved, but the device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a pending request storage that preliminarily stores translation requests before they are fully processed. When a request is received, the system checks if a translation is already in progress or completed, and if so, retrieves it from the pending storage rather than initiating a new translation process. This preliminary action prevents redundant translations and reduces the burden on the address translation storage, maintaining high translation capability without increasing device size.
2Loss of time
If the address translation storage processes all requests immediately, then the response time is reduced, but the bandwidth pressure and capacity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a feedback mechanism where the address translation storage monitors ongoing translation processes and provides status information back to the pending request storage. When a translation is completed or in progress, this feedback allows the system to retrieve results from pending storage without requiring immediate re-processing, thereby reducing bandwidth pressure and capacity requirements while maintaining fast response times.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for data processing and a method of data processing are provided. Address translation storage stores address translations between first set addresses and second set addresses, and responds to a request comprising a first set address to return a response comprising a second set address if the required address translation is currently stored therein. If it is not the request is forwarded towards memory in a memory hierarchy. A pending request storage stores entries for received requests and in response to reception of the request, if a stored entry for a previous request indicates that the previous request has been forwarded towards the memory and an expected response to the previous request will provide the address translation, intercepts the request to delay its reception by the address translation storage. Bandwidth pressure on the address translation storage is thus relieved.