Cache-Line Command Aggregation to Reduce Serial Dependencies

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data compression techniques lead to serial dependencies between commands, complicating execution and requiring serial execution of commands in streams, especially when incremental modifications are involved, leading to inefficient throughput in processing systems.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced to combine commands within a predetermined address range, such as a 32-byte cache line, by comparing and aggregating commands with matching read and write addresses, and generating aggregate commands that optimize throughput by reducing the number of commands sent to the back end of the pipeline.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If compression techniques use backward references to represent current data chunks as pointers to previous chunks, then data transmission bandwidth is reduced, but serial dependencies between commands are created complicating execution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth usageVSAvoidcommand execution complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple independent commands that operate on the same cache line into a single aggregate command. This merging reduces the number of serial command executions required while maintaining the bandwidth efficiency of compression techniques. The aggregate command structure allows multiple operations to be performed in parallel on different portions of the same cache line, eliminating serial dependencies between separate commands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If commands are executed serially due to compression dependencies, then data accuracy is maintained, but processing throughput is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidprocessing throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the command stream by identifying independent commands that can be executed in parallel. By dividing the serial command sequence into multiple independent segments that operate on different portions of cache lines, the system maintains data accuracy through proper segmentation while enabling parallel execution to improve throughput. The aggregation logic ensures that segmented commands are properly coordinated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension of parallelism by aggregating commands at the cache line level. Instead of executing commands strictly in serial order, the system creates a two-dimensional execution model where multiple commands within the same cache line can execute simultaneously, while maintaining serial execution across different cache lines. This dimensional change resolves the throughput limitation without sacrificing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple commands operate on the same cache line, then functionality is enhanced, but the number of commands increases reducing efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommand functionalityVSAvoidcommand execution efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple commands operating on the same cache line into a single aggregate command structure. This combining maintains the enhanced functionality of performing multiple operations on the cache line while improving efficiency by reducing the total number of command executions. The aggregate command consolidates multiple operations into one unified command that can be executed more efficiently than multiple separate commands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3887932B1Aggregating commands in a stream based on cache line addresses
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES INC
  • EP3887932B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3887932B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3887932B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An operation combiner [240] receives a series of commands with read addresses, a modification operation, and write addresses. In some cases, the commands have serial dependencies that limit the rate at which they can be processed. The operation combiner compares the addresses for compatibility, transforms the operations to break serial dependencies, and combines multiple source commands into a smaller number of aggregate commands that can be executed much faster than the source commands. Some embodiments of the operation combiner receive a first command including one or more first read addresses and a first write address. The operation combiner compares the first read addresses and the first write address to one or more second read addresses and a second write address of a second command stored in a buffer. The operation combiner selectively combines the first and second commands to form an aggregate command based on the comparison.