Instruction Halting With Approximate Set Membership Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adding multiple halting points in debugging can lead to larger circuits or slow down the debugging process due to the need for extensive checking of memory addresses against a list of 'halting' addresses, which is time-consuming when done serially and requires significant hardware resources for parallel checking.
Innovation Solution
Implement an approximate set membership query to quickly determine if a memory address is potentially a halting point, followed by a confirmation query for definitive results, reducing the need for extensive hardware and minimizing slowdowns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple halting points are added for debugging, then debugging capability is improved, but circuit size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the halting point checking process into two distinct stages: an approximate set membership query stage that quickly filters most addresses, and a confirmation query stage that definitively checks only the filtered addresses. This segmentation allows the system to support multiple halting points without requiring all checking resources to be active simultaneously, thus improving debugging capability while controlling circuit size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary data structure (the approximate set membership structure) between the memory address and the final halting decision. This intermediary quickly pre-filters addresses that might be halting points, reducing the number of addresses that require definitive checking by the confirmation circuitry. This mediator enables the system to handle more halting points without proportionally increasing the confirmation circuitry size.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple halting points are added for debugging, then debugging capability is improved, but debugging speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the halting check into approximate query and confirmation query stages, the system processes addresses in two phases. The approximate query stage rapidly eliminates most non-halting addresses, and the confirmation stage efficiently verifies only the remaining candidates. This segmentation ensures that debugging speed is maintained even with multiple halting points, as the majority of addresses are quickly filtered without requiring slow definitive checking.
3Device complexity
If serial checking of memory addresses is used, then circuit size is reduced, but checking time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs a preliminary approximate set membership query for each memory address before performing the definitive confirmation query. This preliminary action quickly identifies and filters out addresses that are definitely not halting points, reducing the number of addresses that require time-consuming serial confirmation checking. The preliminary filter maintains small circuit size while significantly reducing the average checking time by eliminating unnecessary confirmations.
4Loss of time
If parallel checking of memory addresses is used, then checking time is reduced, but circuit size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the checking process so that the approximate query stage can operate in parallel for multiple addresses, while the confirmation stage handles only the filtered subset. This segmentation allows parallel processing to be applied effectively without requiring full parallel confirmation circuitry for all possible addresses, thus reducing checking time while controlling circuit size.
Solution Approach 2:
The approximate set membership structure serves as an intermediary that enables efficient parallel pre-filtering of addresses. By quickly identifying candidate halting points in parallel, the intermediary reduces the workload for the subsequent serial confirmation stage, achieving fast checking without requiring proportionally large parallel confirmation circuitry.
Data Source
AI summary
A data processing apparatus is provided that includes storage circuitry for storing a data value derived from a plurality of memory addresses associated with a stream of instructions. Membership query circuitry performs an approximate set membership query against the data value of a memory address associated with a current one of the instructions and in response to the approximate set membership query being positive, issues the memory address to confirmation circuitry. Halt circuitry halts execution of the stream of instructions by processing circuitry in response to at least one condition being met, the at least one condition including a positive indication from the confirmation circuitry that the memory address is one of the plurality of memory addresses.