Hardware Memory Alignment Buffer for Embedded Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems face performance penalties due to memory alignment requirements, particularly in embedded processor applications, where data transfer between non-aligned memory locations necessitates software intervention, leading to resource wastage and reduced throughput.
Innovation Solution
A memory alignment technology (MAT) apparatus that aligns data in hardware, eliminating the need for software alignment, by using a host bus interface to route and format data within a configurable transmit buffer, and includes receive and status buffers to manage incoming data alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If software alignment is used to meet memory alignment requirements, then data transfer correctness is ensured, but system performance deteriorates due to additional CPU cycles and processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces software-based alignment operations with a hardware alignment buffer that automatically performs memory alignment. The alignment buffer is configured with alignment parameters matching the processor requirements, and the DMA controller directly writes to this buffer, eliminating the need for software intervention and CPU cycles while ensuring correct alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment buffer serves as an intermediary component between the DMA controller and the destination memory. It receives misaligned data from the DMA controller, automatically aligns it according to configured parameters, and outputs properly aligned data to the destination, thus mediating the alignment requirement without software involvement.
2Manufacturing precision
If software alignment operations are performed, then memory alignment requirements are met, but data transfer time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes software alignment operations with hardware-based automatic alignment in the alignment buffer. The buffer is pre-configured with alignment parameters (such as alignment granularity and offset), enabling it to automatically perform alignment operations in parallel with data transfer, thus eliminating sequential software processing delays while maintaining precise alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment buffer is pre-configured with alignment parameters before data transfer begins. This preliminary configuration allows the buffer to automatically perform alignment operations as data flows through it, rather than requiring post-transfer software alignment, thereby eliminating time loss while ensuring precision.
3Measurement precision
If CPU intervention is used for data alignment, then alignment accuracy is ensured, but computing resource waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces CPU-based software alignment with a dedicated hardware alignment buffer that automatically handles alignment operations. The buffer contains configurable alignment parameters and performs alignment through hardware logic, eliminating CPU intervention entirely. This substitution ensures alignment accuracy through precise hardware control while eliminating the computing resource waste associated with software execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment buffer is self-configuring and self-operating. It automatically receives alignment parameters from the host system, configures its internal alignment logic, and performs alignment operations autonomously as data flows through it. This self-service capability ensures accurate alignment without requiring continuous CPU intervention or computing resources.
4Productivity
If hardware alignment buffer is introduced, then data transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment buffer is designed as a universal interface component that can handle multiple data types and alignment requirements through configurable parameters. It serves both as a DMA buffer and an alignment engine, and can be programmed to support different processor architectures and alignment granularities. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing significant efficiency improvements across diverse applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment buffer uses configurable parameters (alignment granularity, offset, data width) to adapt to different system requirements without requiring different hardware designs. By changing software-configurable parameters rather than hardware architecture, the buffer achieves high data transfer efficiency while keeping the physical device complexity manageable through parameterization rather than structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A memory alignment system for efficient data transfer between a local memory that is configured in a host system, and a remote memory, comprises a data communications controller configured in the host system to align transmitted and received data based on formatting information received from the host system. When transmitting data from local system memory, for example over an Ethernet connection, communications control driver software may first write formatting information corresponding to the data into the data communications controller. The data communications controller is operable to align the data based on the formatting information as the driver software moves the data into a configurable transmit data buffer inside the data communications controller. Similarly, the driver software may write formatting information for receive data into a receive-format configuration buffer. The data communications controller may align the receive data based on the receive-formatting information as the receive data is being read by the host system. Because the data communications controller performs all the required data alignment, no data alignment by the host processor is required.