Dynamic Lane Control for High-Speed Serial Link Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large-scaled computers, high-speed serial links consume significant power even when idle, reducing computational efficiency due to the time required to switch lanes from an off to an on state, which adds to communication delay and reduces bandwidth utilization.
Innovation Solution
The system detects transfer-control information before data transfer and issues lane-control instructions to increase the number of lanes used during data transfer, concealing startup time within the communication pattern of lightweight messages, allowing full lanes to be operational before data transfer, thus reducing power consumption without compromising efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the operation of the serial link is stopped during the computation phase to suppress unnecessary power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but the startup time required for recovery is added to communication delay time and computational efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting transfer-control information before data transfer and issuing lane-control instructions in advance to increase the number of lanes used. This allows the serial link to be activated before actual data transfer begins, concealing the startup time within the communication pattern of lightweight messages and preventing it from adding to communication delay time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by dynamically controlling the number of lanes used for data transfer based on detected transfer-control information. The system adjusts the lane configuration from a stopped or reduced state to a full operational state in response to communication needs, optimizing both power consumption and performance based on actual traffic conditions.
2Loss of energy
If the number of lanes is dynamically controlled according to the number or amount of messages that pass through the link per unit time, then power consumption is reduced, but a significant time is required for switching a power supply of the lane from an OFF state to an ON state and thus communication may not be performed at a timing at which a sufficient bandwidth may be utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting transfer-control information before data transfer and issuing lane-control instructions in advance to increase the number of lanes used. This allows the serial link to be activated before actual data transfer begins, concealing the startup time within the communication pattern of lightweight messages and preventing it from adding to communication delay time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by dynamically controlling the number of lanes used for data transfer based on detected transfer-control information. The system adjusts the lane configuration from a stopped or reduced state to a full operational state in response to communication needs, optimizing both power consumption and performance based on actual traffic conditions.
3Speed
If a countermeasure that increases the number of lanes per link is established in order to enhance a link speed, then link speed is enhanced, but the power consumed by a physical layer of the high speed serial link is increased and becomes non-negligible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by dynamically controlling the number of lanes used for data transfer based on detected transfer-control information. The system adjusts the lane configuration from a stopped or reduced state to a full operational state in response to communication needs, optimizing both power consumption and performance based on actual traffic conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying the number of active lanes in the serial link based on communication requirements. Instead of maintaining a fixed high lane count for maximum speed, the system adjusts the lane parameter dynamically, using fewer lanes during low-traffic periods to reduce power consumption while maintaining high performance when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
First and second apparatuses are connected with each other through a communication path provided with a plurality of lanes used for data transfer that is performed between the first and second apparatuses. Prior to data transfer, transfer-control information is exchanged between the first and second apparatuses according to a predetermined communication protocol. Upon detecting transfer-control information, the first apparatus notifies the second apparatus of a lane-control instruction to increase a second lane-counter indicating a number of lanes used by the second apparatus, and increases a first lane-counter indicating a number of lanes used by the first apparatus so that the first lane-counter is greater than a number of lanes that have been used when detecting the transfer-control information. Upon detecting the lane-control instruction, the second apparatus increases the second lane-counter so that the second lane-counter is greater than a number of lanes that have been used when detecting the instruction.