Multi-Core Cache Data Access via Near Location Hint Table
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-core processor architectures, existing data storage and access methods face challenges in ensuring efficient data access times and reducing cache misses, as data may be stored in multiple caches, leading to inconsistencies and increased latency due to the need to access data blocks stored in other tiles.
Innovation Solution
A system is implemented that uses a near location hint table and directory to facilitate data storage and access by identifying the location of data blocks within neighboring tiles, allowing processors to quickly access data by searching the hint table before the directory, and updating the hint table to optimize data placement based on access patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is stored in multiple caches to improve availability, then data consistency becomes difficult to maintain and cache coherence protocols become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data location information from the full cache coherence tracking mechanism and places it in a separate directory structure. This allows the system to track where data is stored without managing the full coherence state across multiple caches, thereby reducing protocol complexity while maintaining data availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a directory as an intermediary component between processors and caches. The directory maintains information about data locations and serves as a mediator for coherence protocols, reducing the direct complexity of managing multiple caches while ensuring data consistency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If data is accessed from remote tiles to improve data distribution, then data access latency increases due to additional transmission steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions by pre-establishing a directory structure that maps data locations before access is needed. Processors can query the directory to determine optimal data retrieval paths, and data can be pre-positioned in caches based on access patterns, reducing latency when data is actually accessed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where access patterns are monitored and used to update the directory information. This allows the system to learn from actual access behavior and optimize future data retrieval operations, reducing latency by anticipating data needs and pre-positioning data in appropriate caches.
3Reliability
If cache coherence protocols are enhanced to maintain data consistency, then data access speed decreases due to additional tracking overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts coherence tracking information into a separate directory structure that operates independently from the data access path. This allows consistency checking to be performed without blocking data retrieval operations, maintaining both data consistency and access speed by separating tracking overhead from data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs coherence tracking and data location determination as preliminary actions before actual data access. By pre-resolving coherence issues and determining optimal data sources in advance, the system avoids delays during data retrieval operations while maintaining consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies are generally described for a system for sending a data block stored in a cache. In some examples described herein, a system may comprise a first processor in a first tile. The first processor is effective to generate a request for a data block, the request including a destination identifier identifying a destination tile for the data block, the destination tile being distinct from the first tile. Some example systems may further comprise a second tile effective to receive the request, the second tile effective to determine a data tile including the data block, the second tile further effective to send the request to the data tile. Some example systems may still further comprise a data tile effective to receive the request from the second tile, the data tile effective to send the data block to the destination tile.