Graphics Processor Pilot Job Dependency Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern graphics processors face inefficiencies when performing a sequence of processing jobs that includes initial 'pilot' processing jobs, as strict processing barriers lead to idle cores and increased latency.
Innovation Solution
The method involves tracking whether initial 'pilot' processing jobs are currently being processed and controlling the execution of 'main' processing jobs accordingly, allowing 'main' processing to start concurrently with 'pilot' processing while ensuring data dependencies are enforced within the processing cores.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If strict processing barriers are enforced between pilot and main processing jobs, then data dependency correctness is ensured, but processing core utilization decreases and latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of processing barriers by introducing a dependency tracking mechanism that monitors pilot job completion status. The barrier enforcement is made adaptive rather than static, allowing the system to dynamically adjust when blocking occurs based on actual dependency requirements. This resolves the contradiction by making the barrier flexible - strictly enforced only when necessary for correctness, and relaxed when safe to improve utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms through completion trackers that monitor the state of pilot processing jobs. This feedback information is used to control the execution of main processing jobs, allowing the system to make informed decisions about when to enforce barriers and when to allow concurrent execution. The feedback loop enables the system to maintain correctness while optimizing performance.
2Reliability
If strict processing barriers are enforced between pilot and main processing jobs, then data dependency correctness is ensured, but processing latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the processing barrier dynamic rather than static, allowing it to be enforced only when data dependency correctness requires it. The completion tracker enables the system to detect when pilot jobs are complete and safely remove barriers, reducing unnecessary waiting time and latency while maintaining correctness where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary tracking of pilot job completion status before enforcing barriers on main jobs. By preparing the dependency information in advance and making it available for control decisions, the system avoids last-minute blocking and reduces processing latency while ensuring correctness.
3Productivity
If main processing jobs are issued concurrently with pilot processing jobs, then processing core utilization improves, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a completion tracker as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between pilot and main processing jobs. This intermediary tracks dependency status and provides control information, simplifying the overall control logic while enabling concurrent job issuance. The tracker acts as a buffer that manages complexity locally rather than requiring complex global control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing main processing jobs to autonomously check completion tracker status and proceed when dependencies are satisfied. This self-determination reduces the need for complex external control mechanisms and simplifies the overall control architecture while maintaining safe concurrent execution.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method of operating a graphics processor when performing a processing pass that includes an initial “pilot” processing job that executes a respective initial “pilot” shader program that is to be executed in advance of a corresponding “main” shader program that will be executed for a separate “main” processing job within the same processing pass. A “main” processing job is permitted to be issued for processing concurrently with an initial “pilot” processing job on which it depends. To enforce dependencies between “main” and “pilot” shader execution in this case it is tracked whether any initial “pilot” processing jobs are currently being processed by the set of one or more processing cores and processing of tasks for “main” processing jobs is controlled accordingly.