CPU Sampling Buffer Interrupt Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sampling facilities in processing environments cause significant system overhead and distort measured data due to frequent interruptions during data collection, limiting the practical use of sampling data.
Innovation Solution
A CPU measurement sampling facility that stores data in a buffer and provides an interrupt only when necessary, minimizing data loss by allowing the buffer to fill before data is read out, thereby reducing the frequency of interruptions and enhancing system performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If data is collected at each sampling time by taking snapshots and recording state information, then comprehensive data collection is achieved, but system overhead increases significantly and measured data may be distorted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data collection process into two distinct phases: a sampling phase where data is accumulated in a buffer without interruptions, and a readout phase where the buffer is emptied through interrupts. This segmentation allows comprehensive data collection during sampling while minimizing system overhead during readout operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by accumulating data in a buffer before the readout operation. The buffer is prepared in advance during the sampling phase, and then the interrupt reads this pre-accumulated data. This eliminates the need for frequent interruptions during data collection, reducing system overhead while maintaining comprehensive sampling.
2Productivity
If interrupts are provided at each sampling interval to read out data, then data collection is continuous, but system performance deteriorates and measured data accuracy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary action by accumulating data in a buffer during the sampling phase before the interrupt reads it. This allows the system to maintain continuous data collection without frequent interruptions, as the buffer absorbs the timing discrepancy between sampling rate and interrupt frequency, thereby preserving measured data accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer acts as an intermediary between the sampling mechanism and the interrupt readout. It decouples the sampling process from the interrupt mechanism, allowing data to be collected continuously while interrupts are spaced apart. This intermediary absorbs the timing variations and ensures both continuous data collection and accurate measurements.
3Quantity of substance
If the amount of sample data to be collected is increased, then more comprehensive analysis is enabled, but the frequency of interrupts must increase which worsens system overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data collection into a sampling phase where data accumulates in a buffer without interrupts, and a readout phase where the buffer is emptied. This segmentation allows the system to collect large amounts of data without proportionally increasing interrupt frequency, as multiple samples can be accumulated before each interrupt.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by accumulating multiple data samples in the buffer before triggering an interrupt for readout. This allows the system to collect a larger quantity of sample data while maintaining a lower interrupt frequency, as the buffer is filled in advance during the sampling phase without requiring continuous interruptions.
Data Source
AI summary
A measurement sampling facility takes snapshots of the central processing unit (CPU) on which it is executing at specified sampling intervals to collect data relating to tasks executing on the CPU. The collected data is stored in a buffer, and at selected times, an interrupt is provided to remove data from the buffer to enable reuse thereof. The interrupt is not taken after each sample, but in sufficient time to remove the data and minimize data loss.