Exception Circuit Suppressing Time-Intensive Instructions

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Solution Overview

Problem

In real-time systems, the execution of time-intensive instructions can lead to delays and potential system failures when critical events require immediate response, as these instructions may need to complete before the event can be addressed, causing inefficiency and resource wastage.

Innovation Solution

A control value is implemented to permit or suppress the execution of time-intensive instructions, allowing the system to quickly respond to critical events by disallowing such instructions before the event occurs, using exception generating circuitry to manage the execution of instructions based on privilege levels and predetermined events like context switches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the processor executes time consuming instructions, then computational tasks are completed, but the response time to critical events is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstruction execution completionVSAvoidresponse time to critical events
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by setting a control value to prohibit time-consuming instructions before a critical event is expected to occur. This proactive measure ensures that when the critical event happens, the processor is ready to respond immediately without being blocked by long-running instructions, thus resolving the contradiction between completing computational tasks and responding timely to critical events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If time intensive instructions are executed prior to critical events, then processing work is accomplished, but system determinism is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing work completionVSAvoidsystem determinism
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies dynamics by making the execution permission of time-intensive instructions changeable based on system state. The control value can be dynamically adjusted between allowing and prohibiting time-intensive instructions depending on whether a critical event is imminent. This dynamic control mechanism maintains system determinism while still permitting productive processing work when appropriate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the processor is busy executing instructions, then computational throughput is maintained, but the ability to respond to events within specified time periods is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputational throughputVSAvoidevent response speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by preemptively prohibiting time-consuming instructions before critical events occur. This counter-measure prevents the potential harm of delayed event response by stopping problematic instructions before they can interfere with critical event handling, thus preserving both computational throughput during normal operation and event response speed when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP3036629B1Handling time intensive instructions
Publication Date: 2021.06.09 ARM LTD
  • EP3036629B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3036629B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3036629B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The execution of time intensive instructions can lead to critical events being responded to late or not being responded to at all. An information processing apparatus comprises processing circuitry (60) for executing instructions comprising one or more time intensive instructions and exception generating circuitry (100) for generating at least one exception for the processing circuitry. The processing circuitry maintains a control value (20) for indicating whether or not the time intensive instructions can be executed. When a time intensive instruction is encountered, if the control value indicates that time intensive instructions cannot be executed then a first exception triggers the processing circuitry to suppress execution of the time intensive instruction. Alternatively, if the control value indicates that time intensive instructions can be executed, then the time intensive instruction is executed.