Dynamic Cache Invalidation via Distributed Time Base Signal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ray tracing techniques require significant computational power, making it difficult to render complex three-dimensional scenes quickly enough for realistic animation, especially in applications like game consoles where fast rendering is necessary.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using a distributed time base signal and attribute bits in memory directory entries to invalidate select portions of the memory cache, allowing for efficient management of memory cache validity and reducing the need for extensive cache invalidation operations, thereby improving processing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If ray tracing is used to render three-dimensional scenes with realism, then rendering quality is improved, but processing time increases making fast animation rendering difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the memory cache into multiple portions (e.g., first portion, second portion, third portion) and creates separate memory directory entries for each portion. This segmentation allows selective invalidation of only the necessary cache portions rather than the entire cache, reducing the time required for cache management operations while maintaining rendering quality.
2Reliability
If the entire memory cache is invalidated to ensure data freshness, then data validity is improved, but processing overhead increases reducing rendering speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different validity attributes to different portions of the memory cache. Each memory directory entry can have independent invalidate bits (e.g., first invalidate bit, second invalidate bit, third invalidate bit) that control the validity status of specific cache portions. This local quality approach ensures that only the portions containing outdated data are invalidated, maintaining data validity where needed while preserving valid data in other portions, thus reducing processing overhead and improving rendering speed.
3Productivity
If selective cache invalidation is implemented to reduce overhead, then processing efficiency is improved, but cache management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic cache invalidation by using a distributed time base signal that periodically triggers invalidation of specific cache portions based on their validity attributes. The system dynamically determines which cache portions need invalidation by checking the invalidate bits in memory directory entries against the current time base signal, rather than using static invalidation rules. This dynamic approach improves processing efficiency by invalidating only necessary portions while managing complexity through automated time-based control.
Data Source
AI summary
According to embodiments of the invention, a distributed time base signal may be coupled to a memory directory which provides address translation for data located within a memory cache. The memory directory may have attribute bits which indicate whether or not the memory entries have been accessed by the distributed time base signal. Furthermore, the memory directory may have attribute bits which indicate whether or not a memory directory entry should be considered invalid after an access to the memory entry by the distributed time base signal. If the memory directory entry has been accessed by the distributed time base signal and the memory directory entry should be considered invalid after the access by the time base signal, any attempted address translation using the memory directory entry may cause a cache miss. The cache miss may initiate the retrieval of valid data from memory.