Hardware Garbage Collector for FPGA Memory Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) face complexity in programming due to low-level hardware description languages, which makes memory management and garbage collection challenging, hindering their programmability and performance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a hardware garbage collector with a system marking engine and sweep engine to dynamically manage memory by traversing heaps, marking objects, and freeing identified objects, while supporting multiple heterogeneous heaps for efficient object management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If low-level hardware description languages are used for FPGA programming, then hardware control precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hardware garbage collector as an intermediary layer between the programmer and the low-level hardware description language. This garbage collector automatically manages memory allocation and deallocation, shielding programmers from complex manual memory management while maintaining precise hardware control through the underlying HDL implementation.
2Device complexity
If manual memory management is implemented in FPGAs, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The hardware garbage collector implements self-service memory management by automatically tracking object lifetimes, detecting unreachable objects, and freeing memory without programmer intervention. This eliminates manual memory management overhead while enhancing productivity through automatic resource optimization.
3Ease of operation
If automatic garbage collection is added to raise abstraction level, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and memory usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The garbage collector is segmented into distinct functional modules including a marking engine for identifying reachable objects, a sweeping engine for freeing unreachable objects, and a root collection engine for managing object references. This modular segmentation manages complexity by organizing the garbage collection system into manageable, independent components.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple heterogeneous heaps are used for object storage, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and memory overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The garbage collector implements a universal marking and sweeping mechanism that can operate across multiple heterogeneous heaps with different object layouts and access patterns. The same core garbage collection logic adapts to various heap types, providing versatile object management without requiring separate complex management systems for each heap type.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention provide a method and system for dynamic memory management implemented in hardware. In an embodiment, the method comprises storing objects in a plurality of heaps, and operating a hardware garbage collector to free heap space. The hardware garbage collector traverses the heaps and marks selected objects, uses the marks to identify a plurality of the objects, and frees the identified objects. In an embodiment, the method comprises storing objects in a heap, each of at least some of the objects including a multitude of pointers; and operating a hardware garbage collector to free heap space. The hardware garbage collector traverses the heap, using the pointers of some of the objects to identify others of the objects; processes the objects to mark selected objects; and uses the marks to identify a group of the objects, and frees the identified objects.