Dynamic Memory Reconfiguration for Selective Channel Interleaving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-channel memory systems utilize a fixed number of channels for data interleaving, leading to inefficiencies and increased latency in accessing memory pages, particularly in parallel processing units like GPUs, where different types of data require varying access patterns.
Innovation Solution
Implementing dynamic memory reconfiguration by a kernel mode driver that allocates memory pages across configurable subsets of channels based on a mode of allocation, allowing for shared or private memory access, reducing interference and latency through flexible interleaving.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a fixed number of channels is used for data interleaving in conventional multi-channel memory systems, then the memory system structure is simple and stable, but memory access efficiency decreases and latency increases due to inability to adapt to different data access patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic memory reconfiguration by allowing the number of active channels to be changed at runtime based on workload characteristics. The system can transition between different channel configurations (e.g., single-channel mode for low latency, multi-channel mode for high bandwidth) without requiring physical reconfiguration, thus achieving adaptability while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of channel count from a fixed hardware configuration to a dynamically adjustable parameter. By modifying the number of active channels based on data access patterns and performance requirements, the system optimizes memory access efficiency for different workloads while managing the complexity through software-controlled parameter adjustment
2Quantity of substance
If multiple memory channels are used in parallel to increase data throughput, then memory capacity and bandwidth increase, but memory access latency increases due to interference and complexity in managing multiple channels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the memory address space into different channels and enables selective activation of specific channel subsets based on access patterns. This segmentation allows the system to use multiple channels for high bandwidth when needed while falling back to single-channel mode for low-latency access, thus resolving the contradiction between capacity and latency
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of active channels based on the specific memory access requirements of different workloads. For bandwidth-intensive operations, multiple channels are activated; for latency-sensitive operations, the system transitions to single-channel mode, thereby optimizing the trade-off between memory capacity utilization and access speed
3Productivity
If a fixed interleaving pattern is used across all memory channels, then the memory controller design is simple, but processing efficiency decreases because different data types require varying access patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic reconfiguration of the interleaving pattern based on the specific memory access requirements. The memory controller can adapt the interleaving strategy in real-time based on workload characteristics, transitioning between different interleaving modes (e.g., sequential, random, channel-specific) to optimize processing efficiency without requiring a completely complex fixed design
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the interleaving pattern from a fixed parameter to a dynamically adjustable one. The memory controller modifies interleaving parameters such as channel selection, access sequence, and data distribution based on workload type, thereby optimizing processing efficiency while managing controller complexity through parameter-based adaptation rather than hardcoding multiple patterns
Data Source
AI summary
A processing system including a parallel processing unit selectively allocating pages of memory for interleaving across configurable subsets of channels based on a mode of allocation. In some embodiments, in a first mode, a page of memory is allocated to and interleaved across a plurality of channels, and in a second mode, a page of memory is allocated to and interleaved across a subset of the plurality of channels.