Coprocessor Synchronized Register Renaming for Stall Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microprocessors with multiple processing units face challenges in synchronized operation and resource management, leading to inefficiencies and potential stalls due to lack of resource synchronization between master processors and coprocessors.
Innovation Solution
A synchronized register renaming method is implemented, where the master processor sends operations to the coprocessor with an identifier, and the coprocessor schedules and executes them, notifying the master processor upon completion, while maintaining resource allocation maps to prevent stalls and ensure consistent resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the master processor sends operations to the coprocessor for execution, then the coprocessor can execute operations independently and out-of-order, but resource allocation desynchronization may cause stalls in the master processor
Solution Approach 1:
The coprocessor sends completion notifications back to the master processor using the identifier returned by the master processor. This feedback mechanism allows the master processor to track the status of outstanding operations and resume execution when resources become available, eliminating stalls caused by resource desynchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The master processor allocates identifiers from a scheduler table in advance before operations are completed by the coprocessor. This preliminary allocation ensures that when operations complete, the master processor immediately has the identifiers needed to track and resume operations without waiting for resource availability notifications.
2Reliability
If the coprocessor maintains resource allocation maps to track resources, then resource synchronization is improved, but the complexity of the coprocessor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coprocessor maintains an external resource allocation map that is a simplified copy or shadow of the actual resource allocation. This external map uses bit vectors to track resource availability in a compact form, providing the necessary synchronization information without requiring the full complexity of detailed resource tracking structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The resource allocation maps are implemented using bit vectors, which change the representation parameter from detailed resource descriptors to compact binary states. This parameter transformation reduces the complexity of storing and manipulating resource allocation information while maintaining the ability to track resource availability accurately.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for synchronized renaming between a master processor and a coprocessor includes sending from the master processor an operation for execution by the coprocessor along with an identifier, at the coprocessor, renaming the operation for execution, including assigning a resource and associating the resource with the identifier, and at a subsequent time, sending the identifier from the master processor to the coprocessor to be used in conjunction with the execution of the renamed operation.