Counterflow Pipeline Data Comparison Apparatus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing counterflow pipeline techniques face challenges in ensuring accurate and flexible data comparison, often resulting in data comparison errors and requiring complex status monitoring and stalling mechanisms to prevent errors, while also being limited to one-to-one data comparisons that cannot be dynamically adjusted.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a cache apparatus with a data processing apparatus that utilizes two pipelines shifting data in opposing directions, incorporating comparison circuits and decrementers to adjust storage indices and prevent comparison errors, allowing for simultaneous comparison of multiple data elements and dynamic adjustment of comparison pairs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the first and second pipelines are independently shifted to attain faster counterflow pipeline operations, then processing speed is improved, but data comparison errors occur when pipelines are shifted at the same time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements status monitoring mechanisms that track the positions of data elements in both pipelines. When a potential comparison error is detected through this feedback system, the pipelines are stalled to prevent incorrect comparisons. This feedback-based control ensures that independent pipeline shifting does not compromise data comparison accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary status checks and positioning verification before allowing pipeline shifts to occur. By预先 (in advance) monitoring the pipeline states and determining safe shift opportunities, the system enables faster operations without causing comparison errors, thus resolving the contradiction between speed and reliability.
2Productivity
If the counterflow pipeline technique is used for data comparison, then processing efficiency is improved, but the system cannot dynamically adjust the number of data elements to be compared
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic control mechanisms that allow the number of active data elements in each pipeline to be adjusted during operation. Control signals can enable or disable specific pipeline stages, allowing the system to adapt the comparison scope dynamically while maintaining the efficient counterflow pipeline architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the pipeline system to perform multiple functions: it can compare different numbers of data elements, handle various data sizes, and adapt to different comparison requirements all within the same hardware structure. This universal design maintains high processing efficiency while providing the needed adaptability.
3Reliability
If status monitoring is implemented to prevent data comparison errors, then data comparison accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases due to stalling mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pipeline into clearly defined segments with dedicated status monitoring for each segment. This segmentation allows the monitoring system to focus on specific pipeline regions, reducing the overall complexity compared to a monolithic monitoring approach while maintaining comprehensive error prevention.
4Measurement precision
If one-to-one data comparison is performed in the counterflow pipeline, then comparison precision is maintained, but flexibility is reduced as one data element cannot be simultaneously compared with multiple data elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the comparison process into an additional dimension by allowing data elements to be compared across multiple pipeline stages sequentially. A single data element can engage in multiple comparison operations as it progresses through the pipeline, enabling one-to-many comparisons while maintaining precise one-to-one comparison at each individual stage.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An apparatus (400, 500) comprising first holding units (300) each of which includes first nodes (310, 330) connected in series and shifts data in a first direction, second holding units (360) each of which includes second nodes (370, 380) connected in series and shifts data in a second direction is provided. Each first node corresponds to at least one of the second nodes. The apparatus further comprises an operation unit (320, 340) which executes at each shift timing, for a first node of interest, an operation using data in the node of interest, and data in at least one of the second nodes to which the node of interest corresponds, and an input unit (410, 480, 510, 580) which inputs, in parallel, data to at least two first holding units, and serially inputs data to at least two second holding units.