Ethernet Shim Flow Control for CGR Processor Stall Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Reconfigurable processors experience stall conditions during communication, reducing system effectiveness and performance due to inefficient flow-control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an Ethernet shim (E-Shim) for lossless connectivity and periodic frame transmission during pause operations to manage network congestion and minimize deadlocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional flow-control mechanisms are used in reconfigurable processors, then communication between system elements can be established, but stall conditions occur reducing system effectiveness and performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic transmission of dummy packets during pause operations to maintain communication flow. Instead of completely stopping transmission when buffers are full, the system periodically sends dummy packets to keep the communication channel active and prevent stall conditions, thereby maintaining system performance while ensuring communication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an Ethernet shim layer as an intermediary between the reconfigurable processor and the network. This shim implements lossless connectivity by managing pause operations and dummy packet transmission, acting as a mediator that prevents stall conditions from propagating and blocking communication between system elements.
2Quantity of substance
If pause operations are implemented to manage network congestion, then buffer congestion is reduced, but transmission interruptions occur
Solution Approach 1:
During pause operations, the system periodically transmits dummy packets instead of maintaining complete silence. This periodic transmission prevents the communication channel from fully stalling, allowing the system to reduce buffer congestion while maintaining some level of transmission activity and minimizing speed interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the transmission parameter by switching from normal data packets to dummy packets during congestion periods. This parameter change allows the system to manage buffer congestion effectively while maintaining communication flow, as the dummy packets occupy the channel without requiring significant buffer resources.
3Stability of the object's composition
If flow-control mechanisms are implemented to prevent deadlocks, then communication stability is improved, but system effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The Ethernet shim acts as an intermediary that implements lossless flow control mechanisms. It manages pause operations and dummy packet transmission to prevent deadlocks while minimizing their impact on system effectiveness. The shim absorbs the stability requirements, allowing the core reconfigurable processor to maintain high effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous communication action by transmitting dummy packets during pause operations. This continuity prevents complete communication stalls and deadlocks, ensuring stability while minimizing interruptions to useful work. The communication channel remains active rather than completely blocking.
Data Source
AI summary
An implementation may include that a coarse-grained reconfigurable (CGR) processor may be configured to receive a network pause command and to responsively transmit data over the network even though the network pause command is active. The transmission rate may be reduced while the network pause command is active.