Buffer Age Matrix Update Circuitry for Timing Decoupling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional age matrix updating in buffers requires frequent updates for each new value, leading to inefficiencies and potential timing issues due to the large number of updates needed.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an age matrix update circuitry that predetermines bit values for unoccupied slots in the buffer, decoupling the filling of buffer entries from the updating of the age matrix, allowing for fewer logical circuits and independent timing of updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional age matrix updating is performed for each new value in the buffer, then the relative age tracking is maintained, but the number of logical circuits increases and timing issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-loads the age matrix with predetermined bit values for unoccupied buffer slots before actual data is stored there. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex real-time updating logic when data is later written to these slots, as their relative ages are already known and stored in the age matrix.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the buffer into occupied and unoccupied slots, treating them differently. Unoccupied slots have their age matrix entries pre-determined and stored, while occupied slots undergo normal update procedures. This segmentation allows the system to avoid complex real-time updates for the majority of buffer slots that remain unoccupied.
2Reliability
If frequent updates are performed for each new value in the buffer, then the age matrix remains current, but performance degrades due to the large number of updates required
Solution Approach 1:
The age matrix entries for unoccupied buffer slots are pre-computed and loaded in advance, eliminating the need for frequent real-time updates. This preliminary action significantly reduces the number of update operations required during normal buffer operation, thereby improving performance while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the known structure and allocation order of buffer slots to automatically determine and pre-load the relative age relationships. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex external control logic to manage age matrix updates, improving both performance and simplicity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the buffer entries are filled sequentially, then the allocation is simple, but the age matrix cannot be updated independently from data storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-determines and stores the relative age relationships for all possible buffer slot combinations in the age matrix before actual data allocation occurs. This preliminary preparation allows the buffer to later support both sequential and non-sequential allocation patterns without requiring coordinated updates between data storage and age matrix maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the data buffer from the age matrix, allowing them to operate independently. The age matrix is pre-filled with relative age information for all possible buffer slot combinations, enabling the data buffer to be allocated in any order while the age matrix remains independently maintained and up-to-date.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and techniques are disclosed for relative age tracking for entries in a buffer. For example, some techniques may include pre-computing age matrix entries of an age matrix corresponding to invalid entries of a data buffer based on a validity indication (e.g., a valid bit mask), wherein the validity indication identifies valid entries in the data buffer and the age matrix tracks relative ages of the entries in the data buffer; responsive to data being received for storage in the data buffer, selecting an entry corresponding to an index value in the data buffer from among a set of invalid entries of the data buffer; storing the data in the entry corresponding to the index value; and updating the validity indication to indicate that the entry corresponding to the index value is valid.