Buffer Interface Proactive Instruction Fetching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data processing systems face inefficiencies due to high power consumption, latency, and bandwidth limitations in accessing instructions from memory, particularly in systems with complex prediction logic and reactive caching mechanisms, which can lead to processor stalls and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A buffer interface with a controller that proactively requests instructions based on available capacity and control signals, allowing for aggressive pre-fetching and intelligent control of instruction movement, while also embedding control information with instructions to optimize system performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a program instruction cache is provided for fast instruction access, then instruction access speed is improved, but power consumption increases due to complex prediction logic
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer proactively pre-fetches instructions from the data store before they are actually needed by the processor. The buffer controller detects when buffer storage capacity is available and automatically requests subsequent instructions, performing the fetch action in advance rather than waiting for processor requests. This preliminary action reduces access latency while using a simpler, lower-power buffer structure instead of complex cache prediction logic.
2Ease of manufacture
If a FIFO buffer is used to buffer instructions prior to use, then implementation cost is reduced, but flexibility decreases leading to more frequent instruction movements and processor stalls
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer controller implements a feedback mechanism that monitors buffer storage capacity and processor instruction requests. When the buffer has available capacity and no control signal is present, the controller automatically triggers pre-fetch of subsequent instructions. This feedback-driven control enables the simple FIFO buffer to behave intelligently, maintaining full buffer occupancy and reducing processor stalls without requiring complex architecture-specific design.
3Reliability
If complex prediction logic is added to caches to maximize instruction retention, then instruction hit rate is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the prediction and control functionality from the cache structure itself and places it in the buffer controller. Instead of embedding complex prediction logic within the cache, the system uses a separate controller that generates control signals based on buffer capacity and instruction patterns. This separation allows the cache to remain simple while the controller handles the intelligent decision-making, reducing overall device complexity and power consumption.
4Productivity
If instructions are frequently moved between buffer and processor, then buffer utilization is improved, but power consumption increases due to repeated instruction movement
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer controller proactively fills the buffer with subsequent instructions before they are needed by the processor. By performing the pre-fetch action in advance when buffer capacity is available, the system minimizes the frequency of instruction movements. Instructions are transferred from the data store to the buffer in bulk ahead of time, reducing repeated movements between the buffer and processor and thereby lowering power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
An interface requests instructions from a data store storing instructions of an application to be processed by a data processor, and receives and transmits the instructions to the data processor. The interface includes: an input that receives the instructions from the data store via at least one input bus; a buffer that stores received instructions; an output that outputs instructions to the data processing apparatus via the output bus; a control signal input that receives a control signal; and a buffer controller that controls the buffer to request an instruction subsequent to a previously received instruction within an instruction stream of the application from the data store in response to detection of no control signal on the control signal input and to detection of available buffer storage capacity. In response to a control signal received at the control signal input, the controller controls at least one of input and storage of instructions within the interface in order to seek to reduce instruction movement through the input.