Chained Wide Data Type Comparison Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data processing systems face inefficiencies when comparing wide data types exceeding 32 bits, as they require storage of intermediate results or complex branching structures, leading to longer execution times and increased code complexity.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves chaining comparison operations, where each operation processes a subset of bits and passes an accumulated comparison result as input to the next operation, eliminating the need for intermediate storage and reducing code complexity by using a descriptor to pass intermediate data between operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If storage is used to store individual comparison results, then the comparison can be performed, but the code sequence becomes longer and execution time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple comparison operations into a single chained instruction sequence where each comparison operation feeds its result directly into the next operation. This eliminates the need for separate storage locations and intermediate code sequences, reducing overall code length while maintaining accurate comparison results through the accumulation of comparison states.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary comparison state mechanism that passes comparison results between operations without requiring explicit storage. The comparison state acts as a mediator that carries accumulated results through the instruction sequence, enabling efficient chaining without additional storage overhead.
2Quantity of substance
If branching structure is used to avoid storage, then storage is eliminated, but code execution time increases due to branch mispredictions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous comparison operations where each operation seamlessly feeds into the next without branching or interruption. The chained comparison instructions execute continuously, maintaining pipeline efficiency and avoiding the delays associated with branch mispredictions, while eliminating the need for storage through the continuous passing of comparison states.
3Productivity
If multiple comparison operations are chained, then wide data types can be compared efficiently, but the complexity of managing comparison states increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal comparison state mechanism that handles all comparison operations uniformly. The same chained instruction pattern works for all wide data type comparisons, and the comparison state serves multiple functions: tracking equality, greater-than, and less-than conditions simultaneously. This multi-functionality reduces the apparent complexity by providing a single unified approach to all comparison scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an apparatus and method for comparing wide data types. The apparatus comprises processing circuitry to perform a plurality of comparison operations in order to compare a first value and a second value, each of the first value and the second value having a length greater than N bits, and each comparison operation operating on a corresponding N bits of the first and second values. The plurality of comparison operations are chained to form a sequence such that each comparison operation is arranged to output an accumulated comparison result incorporating the comparison results of any previous comparison operations in the sequence, and such that for each comparison operation other than a final comparison operation in the sequence the accumulated comparison result is provided for use as an input by a next comparison operation in the sequence.