Floating-Point ISA for Direct Decimal Sequence Computation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital processors are inadequate for handling large floating-point data sets in human-readable decimal character sequences due to the need for explicit conversion to IEEE 754-formatted binary representations, leading to high latency and inefficiency in computations.
Innovation Solution
A universal floating-point Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) that enables direct computation with long decimal character sequences up to 128 characters in length, eliminating the need for explicit conversion by using memory-mapped operators with private result buffers and a 'mover'-style architecture that pushes and pulls data in a single clock cycle, without opcodes, allowing for simultaneous handling of mixed data types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional architectures load decimal character sequences into working registers for computation, then the data can be processed, but the conversion to IEEE 754 binary format requires thousands of clock cycles causing high latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the decimal character sequence into 8-character chunks that can be loaded into working registers, then processes each segment through dedicated conversion hardware that operates in parallel stages, reducing the overall conversion latency from thousands of cycles to a manageable number of cycles per segment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces special conversion hardware as an intermediary component between the working registers and the computation units. This dedicated conversion hardware includes specialized circuits that can convert decimal character sequences to IEEE 754 binary format much faster than general-purpose processors, acting as a mediator that bridges the gap between human-readable input and machine-optimized computation
2Loss of time
If interleaving multi-threading is used to hide conversion latency, then some latency can be masked, but the processor pipeline still stalls for 22 clocks per conversion waiting for current conversion to complete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-loading multiple segments of decimal character sequences into the conversion hardware before the actual computation is needed. The conversion process begins in advance, and results are staged in intermediate buffers, so that when computation is required, the data is already ready, eliminating pipeline stalls
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from temporal parallelism (multi-threading over time) to spatial parallelism by implementing multiple conversion units that operate simultaneously. Instead of switching between threads to hide latency, the system uses multiple dedicated conversion circuits that process different segments at the same time, fundamentally changing the dimension of parallelism from time-based to space-based
3Loss of time
If 30 threads are designed to completely hide latencies of operations up to 30 clocks deep, then latency can be hidden, but logic bloat and difficulty in debugging occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing a single multi-functional conversion unit that can handle different types of operations (conversion, computation, and latency hiding) within the same hardware structure. This universal unit eliminates the need for separate dedicated threads for each function, reducing logic bloat while maintaining the ability to hide latency through its multi-functional capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the conversion function, computation function, and latency management function into a single integrated hardware unit. By combining these previously separate functions into one unified structure, the system achieves latency hiding without requiring multiple separate threads, thereby reducing overall system complexity and improving debuggability
Data Source
AI summary
A universal floating-point Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) implemented entirely in hardware. Using a single instruction, the universal floating-point ISA has the ability, in hardware, to compute directly with dual decimal character sequences up to IEEE 754-2008 “H=20” in length, without first having to explicitly perform a conversion-to-binary-format process in software before computing with these human-readable floating-point or integer representations. The ISA does not employ opcodes, but rather pushes and pulls “gobs” of data without the encumbering opcode fetch, decode, and execute bottleneck. Instead, the ISA employs stand-alone, memory-mapped operators, complete with their own pipeline that is completely decoupled from the processor's primary push-pull pipeline. The ISA employs special three-port, 1024-bit wide SRAMS; a special dual asymmetric system stack; memory-mapped stand-alone hardware operators with private result buffers having simultaneously readable side-A and side-B read ports; and dual hardware H=20 convertFromDecimalCharacter conversion operators.