Buffer Controller Entry Allocation for Access Request Arbitration
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Solution Overview
Problem
In information processing devices, the frequent abortion of access requests from request sources due to insufficient data area allocation in buffer units leads to decreased performance, as the number of allocable data areas per request source decreases, increasing the likelihood of access request abortions and thereby lowering system performance.
Innovation Solution
A computational processing device with a buffer unit that includes multiple entries for holding data, where an arbitration unit and buffer controller manage entry allocation based on a count value comparison against a maximum value for each access type, ensuring at least one entry is reserved for each request holding unit, thereby reducing the frequency of access request abortions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data areas in buffer unit are allocated according to request source, then data area allocation is optimized for specific sources, but the number of allocable data areas per request source decreases and access request abortions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the buffer unit into multiple data areas that can be dynamically allocated to different request sources. By dividing the buffer into allocable segments, the system can assign specific data areas to specific request sources while maintaining overall buffer utilization, thus preventing access request abortions without sacrificing allocation efficiency.
2Reliability
If data areas are allocated to all request sources, then access request abortions are reduced, but the number of data areas allocable to each request source decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic allocation of data areas in the buffer unit, where the allocation can be adjusted based on current system conditions and request patterns. This dynamic approach allows the system to allocate data areas to all request sources when needed to prevent abortions, while maintaining the ability to optimize allocation efficiency when conditions permit.
3Device complexity
If access requests are frequently aborted, then buffer management becomes simpler, but system performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms that monitor access request patterns and buffer utilization, using this information to dynamically adjust data area allocation. This feedback-driven approach prevents access request abortions by anticipating buffer needs, thereby maintaining high system performance without requiring overly complex manual buffer management.
Data Source
AI summary
A computational processing device includes: a computational-processor that outputs access requests to a storage device; a plurality of request-holding-units that respectively hold access requests output by the computational processor according to individual access types, the access types being types of access requests; an arbitration-unit that arbitrates access requests held in the plurality of request holding units; a buffer-unit that includes a plurality of entries that hold data; and a buffer-controller that causes one of the plurality of entries to hold data output by the storage device in response to an access request arbitrated by the arbitration unit, on the basis of a result of comparing, for each access type, a count value that counts, for each access type, the number of entries holding data from among the plurality of entries against a maximum value for the number of entries made to hold data for each access type.