JIT Compiler Runtime Constant Binding for Parallel Processors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional parallel processors have a limited number of constant banks, restricting the number of constant values they can store and leading to partial compliance with industry-standard APIs, such as Tier 3 of the DX12 API, which is essential for multithreaded applications.
Innovation Solution
A just-in-time (JIT) compiler is used to bind constants at runtime by determining a chain of pointers from a root table to a uniform register, allowing each thread to access a larger number of constant values beyond the storage capacity of dedicated constant banks, ensuring full compliance with industry-standard APIs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional constant banks are used to store constant values, then the processor has simple and fast access to constants, but the number of storable constant values is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the constant storage system into two segments: a small, fast constant bank for frequently accessed constants and a larger heap memory for additional constants. This segmentation allows the system to maintain fast access for common constants while expanding total constant capacity through the heap memory accessible via pointer chains.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces pointer chains as an intermediary mechanism between threads and constants stored in heap memory. These pointer chains enable indirect access to constants outside the constant bank, effectively extending the constant storage capacity without requiring direct expansion of the constant bank structure.
2Reliability
If the number of constant banks is limited, then the processor architecture remains simple, but compliance with Tier 3 of DX12 API is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the constant access mechanism universal by implementing a unified interface that works for both constants in the constant bank and constants in heap memory. The pointer chain mechanism provides a universal access method that threads can use regardless of where constants are stored, enabling full API compliance while maintaining architectural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent copies constant values from heap memory to temporary locations accessible by threads through the pointer chain mechanism. This copying approach allows constants to be accessed efficiently without requiring permanent storage expansion in the constant bank, thereby achieving API compliance without proportionally increasing hardware complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more constant values are made available, then multithreaded applications can fully utilize standard APIs, but the complexity of constant management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-organizing constants in heap memory with associated pointer chains before application execution. This preliminary structuring allows the runtime system to efficiently bind constants to threads without complex management during application execution, thereby increasing adaptability while controlling management complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a self-service constant management system where the runtime automatically handles constant binding through pointer chains without requiring explicit programmer intervention. This self-service approach allows multithreaded applications to access a large number of constants while keeping the constant management mechanism transparent and simple for developers.
Data Source
AI summary
A just-in-time (JIT) compiler binds constants to specific memory locations at runtime. The JIT compiler parses program code derived from a multithreaded application and identifies an instruction that references a uniform constant. The JIT compiler then determines a chain of pointers that originates within a root table specified in the multithreaded application and terminates at the uniform constant. The JIT compiler generates additional instructions for traversing the chain of pointers and inserts these instructions into the program code. A parallel processor executes this compiled code and, in doing so, causes a thread to traverse the chain of pointers and bind the uniform constant to a uniform register at runtime. Each thread in a group of threads executing on the parallel processor may then access the uniform constant.