Context Switching Signatures for GPU Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing context switching techniques in computing systems are inefficient due to redundant saving and restoring of context information, leading to increased latency and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The use of signatures generated by applying algorithms to context information allows for determining whether context information has changed, thereby avoiding redundant saves and restores during context switching by comparing these signatures with previously generated ones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If context information is saved and restored during every context switch, then process execution continuity is maintained, but latency and power consumption increase due to redundant operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses signatures (hash values) as simplified copies of context information to represent the state of processes. Instead of copying and comparing entire context data structures, the system generates and compares compact signature values, which are computational representations that uniquely identify context states without requiring full data duplication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the context information into a different parameter form (signature/hash value) that preserves the essential state identification function while reducing the data size and comparison complexity. This parameter transformation allows for faster comparison operations and reduces the amount of data that needs to be saved and restored during context switches.
2Reliability
If context information is saved and restored during every context switch, then process execution continuity is maintained, but power consumption increases due to redundant data operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses signature values as compact representations of context information, avoiding the need to physically copy and transfer large amounts of context data during switches when not needed. This reduces the energy-intensive memory operations while maintaining the ability to restore process state when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
By transforming context information into signature parameters, the system reduces the data volume that requires energy-consuming save and restore operations. The parameter transformation enables the system to maintain process continuity with minimal energy expenditure by operating on compact signature representations rather than full context data structures.
3Reliability
If all context information is saved to memory, then complete process state is preserved, but memory bandwidth and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates compact signature copies of context information that can be stored in registers or small buffers instead of writing full context data to memory. This approach preserves the essential state identification capability while dramatically reducing memory bandwidth consumption and storage requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms context information into condensed signature parameters that occupy minimal storage space. This parameter transformation reduces the quantity of data that needs to be written to and read from memory, thereby reducing memory bandwidth usage and storage requirements while maintaining complete process state preservation capability when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes techniques for context switching. In one example, a graphics processing unit may be configured to generate one or more signatures for context information stored in on-chip memory of the graphics processing unit, determine whether the one or more signatures match any previously generated signatures for context information stored in one or more memories accessible by the graphics processing unit, store, to at least one of the one or more memories, any signature of the one or more signatures that is determined not to match any previously generated signature stored in at least one of the one or more memories, and store, to at least one of the one or more memories, the context information respectively corresponding to the one or more signatures determined not to match any previously generated signature stored in at least one of the one or more memories.