Bus Configuration Module for Power-Optimized Data Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing power consumption in computing systems due to high toggle rates on interconnects, particularly as more processors and cores are added, is not efficiently addressed by existing data compression techniques, which lead to unnecessary toggling and increased power usage despite data inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a bus configuration module that identifies and fills 'holes' in compressed data packets with information from previous packets, and dynamically adjusting the bus width based on workload and data type to minimize toggle rates, thereby reducing both signal and coupling toggle rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data compression is applied to reduce bandwidth usage, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but bus toggle rate increases due to unnecessary toggling of invalid data portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the invalid data portions (holes) from the compressed data packet before transmission. By identifying the valid data boundaries and eliminating the unnecessary invalid portions, the system reduces bus toggling activity while maintaining data transmission efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of transmitting compressed data with invalid portions set to default values (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by transmitting only the valid data portions and using the invalid portions to carry additional useful information such as compression metadata or next packet indicators.
2Productivity
If bus width is increased to match interface widths and provide target bandwidth, then bandwidth is improved, but power consumption increases due to higher bus toggle rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bus width adjustment that adapts to the actual data transmission needs. Instead of using a fixed wide bus width to match interface specifications, the system dynamically selects the minimum necessary bus width based on the valid data portion size, thereby reducing toggle rate and power consumption while maintaining required bandwidth.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the bus width parameter dynamically based on workload characteristics and data compression ratios. By adjusting this physical parameter to match actual transmission requirements rather than maintaining a fixed width, the system optimizes the trade-off between bandwidth and power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for reducing the toggle rates on buses are disclosed. A computing system includes a source which provides packets for transmission on a bus. The packet is compressed by a compression engine. The compressed data format of the packet includes locations (bit positions) referred to as holes which do not include valid data. A bus configuration module identifies the locations of the holes and replaces the holes with information from a previous packet transmitted earlier on the bus. The bus configuration module also determines a new transmission bus width for the packet for lowering the bus toggle rate on the bus during transmission.