Atomic Data Access Resource Allocation Circuitry

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In data processing systems, the high volume of read traffic can block atomic data access requests, leading to potential write channel blocking, which is undesirable in applications requiring uninterrupted writes.

Innovation Solution

The data access routing circuitry reserves resources for atomic data access requests, preventing their use for read requests, ensuring that atomic requests can progress even under high read traffic conditions, and efficiently manages resource allocation between read and write channels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If resources are allocated to handle high volume read traffic, then read request processing capacity is improved, but atomic data access requests may be blocked due to resource unavailability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveread request processing capacityVSAvoidatomic request completion guarantee
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The resource allocation system is segmented into separate pools: dedicated resources for atomic requests and shared resources for read requests. This segmentation ensures atomic requests have guaranteed resource availability while read requests can utilize remaining capacity, resolving the contradiction between read throughput and atomic request reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different resource allocation strategies are applied to different request types: atomic requests receive priority allocation with guaranteed minimum resources, while read requests receive dynamic allocation from remaining resources. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by tailoring resource distribution to specific request requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If resources are reserved for atomic data access requests, then atomic request completion is guaranteed, but overall resource utilization decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveatomic request completion guaranteeVSAvoidoverall resource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The resource allocation system dynamically adjusts between dedicated and shared resource pools based on actual atomic request workload. When atomic request demand is low, more resources are available for read operations; when atomic demand increases, the system ensures atomic requests have sufficient resources. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction between reliability guarantee and overall utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If read requests are allowed to use all available resources, then read traffic handling is maximized, but write channel blocking occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveread traffic handling capacityVSAvoidwrite channel blocking
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary allocation of resources for atomic requests before read requests compete for resources. By reserving resources in advance for atomic operations, the system prevents write channel blocking while still allowing read requests to utilize remaining capacity, thus resolving the contradiction between read throughput and write channel availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3493069B1Resource allocation for atomic data access requests
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 ARM LTD
  • EP3493069B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3493069B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3493069B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Data access routing circuitry 4, 6 is provided for routing data access request to a selected destination node. The data access routing circuitry supports read requests requiring a read response, write requests requiring a write response and at least one type of atomic data access request requiring both a read response and a write response. Resource allocation circuitry 70, 71 is provided to control allocation of resource for handling data access requests which require a read response. The resource allocation circuitry 70, 71 reserves resource for handling the at least one type of atomic data access request and prevents use of the reserved resource 76 for handling read requests.