Compression Accelerator Early-Abort Circuit for Low-Latency Memory Compression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Data processing systems face inefficiencies in memory management due to the time-consuming nature of data compression, particularly when using software-based compression algorithms, which can lead to poor performance when compressing data that is not highly compressible, and existing hardware accelerators do not effectively manage latency.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a hardware compression accelerator with early-abort circuitry that analyzes a subset of the data to determine if the expected compression ratio meets predetermined thresholds, allowing for early termination of the compression process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If software-based compression algorithms are used to compress data in RAM, then memory capacity is effectively increased, but system performance deteriorates due to the time-consuming nature of compression

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffective memory capacityVSAvoidsystem performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces software-based compression algorithms with a hardware compression accelerator. This substitution moves the compression function from the general-purpose CPU to a dedicated hardware circuit, enabling parallel operation with memory swaps and eliminating the performance penalty associated with software compression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a hardware compression accelerator as an intermediary component between RAM and NVS. This accelerator acts as a dedicated processing unit that handles compression operations independently, allowing the main system to continue operating without being blocked by compression delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of substance

If compression is performed on all data before swapping to RAM, then compression ratio is maximized, but latency increases due to the time required to compress data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompression ratioVSAvoidcompression latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements early-abort circuitry that performs a preliminary analysis of data compressibility before initiating full compression. The circuit examines a sample of the data to determine whether compression is likely to be effective, and only then proceeds with the compression operation if the data shows sufficient compressibility characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs a partial compression analysis on a sample of the data rather than compressing the entire dataset immediately. The early-abort circuitry examines only a portion of the data to assess compressibility, avoiding the time cost of full compression when the data is not suitable for compression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Speed

If a hardware compression accelerator is used to reduce compression time, then compression speed is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompression speedVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the compression function from the main CPU and places it in a separate, dedicated hardware accelerator. This extraction allows the compression operation to occur in parallel with other system activities, particularly memory swap operations, thereby improving overall system throughput without significantly impacting the main processing path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If compression operations are performed on incompressible data, then memory management follows the compression protocol, but time is wasted on unnecessary compression operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompression protocol adherenceVSAvoidunnecessary compression time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful waste of compressing incompressible data into a benefit by using the early-abort mechanism to quickly identify and skip such data. The small time investment in preliminary analysis prevents the much larger time waste that would occur from attempting full compression on incompressible data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP4355047B1Technology for early abort of compression acceleration

Publication Date: 2025.09.03 INTEL CORP

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AI summary

An integrated circuit includes a compression accelerator to process a request from software to compress source data into an output file. The compression accelerator includes early-abort circuitry to provide for early abort of compression operations. In particular, the compression accelerator uses a predetermined sample size to compute an estimated size for a portion of the output file. The sample size specifies how much of the source data is to be analyzed before computing the estimated size. The compression accelerator also determines whether the estimated size reflects an acceptable amount of compression, based on a predetermined early-abort threshold. The compression accelerator aborts the request if the estimated size does not reflect the acceptable amount of compression. The compression accelerator may complete the request if the estimated size reflects the acceptable amount of compression. Other embodiments are described and claimed.