Frame Search Buffering Reduces Power Consumption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional search processing apparatuses experience increased power consumption due to frequent access to the search table, especially when frames are input at intervals or have long lengths, leading to prolonged access times and higher power usage.
Innovation Solution
A frame search processing apparatus that extracts frame information, compares it with pre-stored entry information using multiple comparison units, and accumulates data in a buffer before distributing it to the search processing unit, reducing the frequency and duration of searches by triggering output based on accumulation count or time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If search processing is performed for each frame at regular intervals, then processing is simple and easy to implement, but power consumption increases due to frequent search table accesses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic batch processing where multiple frames are accumulated in a buffer and processed together at predetermined intervals. The frame information output control unit triggers search processing periodically based on accumulation count or time conditions, rather than processing each frame individually as it arrives. This periodic batching reduces the frequency of search table accesses while maintaining processing effectiveness.
2Loss of time
If frames are processed individually as they arrive, then processing delay is minimal, but the number of search table accesses increases leading to higher power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary accumulation of frame information in a buffer before triggering search processing. The frame information output control unit monitors the buffer and triggers batch processing when predetermined accumulation count or time conditions are met. This preliminary batching action reduces the frequency of search table accesses while keeping processing delay within acceptable bounds through the predetermined time condition.
3Speed
If parallel comparison circuits are used to process multiple frames simultaneously, then search speed increases, but search table access time increases proportionally
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple frame information processing operations into a single batch processing operation. Instead of having parallel comparison circuits access the search table simultaneously for different frames, the system accumulates multiple frames and triggers a single unified search processing event. This merging approach allows parallel comparison circuits to work efficiently on multiple frames while performing only one search table access operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A frame search processing apparatus includes a frame information extraction unit (1) that extracts frame information from an input frame, a search processing unit (2) that compares the frame information with entry information, and a frame information output control unit (3) that controls output of the frame information to the search processing unit (2). The search processing unit (2) includes a plurality of comparison units that read out N pieces of entry information from a search table, and perform comparison between the entry information and the frame information at once. The frame information output control unit (3) includes a frame information buffer that accumulates the frame information, and an output processing unit that, when triggered by a predetermined accumulation count of the frame information or an elapse of a predetermined accumulation time of the frame information, distributes a plurality of pieces of frame information accumulated in the frame information buffer to the comparison units of the search processing unit (2) one by one.