Data Processing Instruction Grouping for Low-Overhead Out-of-Order Execution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data processing systems face inefficiencies in handling matrix operations due to conflicts and data hazards, particularly when performing out-of-order execution, which can require significant hardware resources and increase power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A data processing apparatus and method that utilizes detector circuitry to identify groups of instructions with no data conflicts, allowing out-of-order execution within these groups, thereby reducing the need for extensive hardware resources and power consumption, while maintaining efficient matrix processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If out-of-order execution is implemented to enhance processing efficiency, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for extensive hardware resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments instructions into groups based on their conflict characteristics. Detector circuitry identifies groups of instructions that can be executed out-of-order without data conflicts, allowing selective out-of-order execution only where safe. This segmentation enables out-of-order execution to improve productivity in conflict-free groups while avoiding the need for complex hardware resources across all instruction types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by treating different instruction groups differently. Instead of applying out-of-order execution uniformly across all instructions, the system identifies specific local groups of instructions that are conflict-free and applies out-of-order execution only to those groups. This selective approach improves productivity where applicable while minimizing the hardware complexity required.
2Productivity
If out-of-order execution is implemented to improve processing throughput, then productivity is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments instructions into conflict-free groups that can be executed out-of-order. By detecting and isolating these specific groups, the system enables out-of-order execution only where it is safe to do so, improving throughput without requiring the extensive hardware resources and associated power consumption that would be needed for a fully out-of-order execution system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial out-of-order execution rather than complete out-of-order execution. Only the subset of instructions that form conflict-free groups are executed out-of-order, while other instructions follow traditional ordered execution. This partial action achieves throughput improvement without the full hardware overhead and power consumption of complete out-of-order execution.
3Reliability
If detector circuitry is added to detect conflict-free instruction groups, then reliability is improved by preventing data hazards, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses detector circuitry to segment instructions into conflict-free groups. The detector identifies specific instruction patterns and groups them based on their conflict characteristics, allowing the system to treat different groups differently. This segmentation approach improves reliability by preventing data hazards in identified conflict-free groups while keeping the detector circuitry relatively simple compared to full out-of-order execution systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The detector circuitry operates autonomously to identify conflict-free instruction groups without requiring complex external control mechanisms. The detector uses the instruction characteristics themselves to determine grouping, allowing the system to self-organize instructions into safe execution groups. This self-service approach improves reliability while minimizing the complexity added by the detector circuitry.
Data Source
AI summary
A data processing apparatus comprises processing circuitry to execute processing instructions, the processing circuitry comprising: a set of physical registers; instruction decoder circuitry to decode processing instructions; detector circuitry to detect groups of instructions which comply with a conflict condition, in which a group of instructions complies with the conflict condition at least when a given storage element is written to by a maximum of one instruction of that group of instructions; instruction issue circuitry to issue decoded instructions for execution; and instruction execution circuitry to execute instructions decoded by the instruction decoder circuitry.