Memory Access Management via Scoreboard Dependency Matrix
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current memory access management in computing devices is inefficient due to the need to decompose instructions accessing large memory regions into multiple cache-line accesses, leading to performance limitations and increased memory usage.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a scoreboard and a dependency matrix to manage memory access operations by comparing address ranges instead of cache-lines, allowing for out-of-order execution of instructions with overlapping or non-overlapping address ranges without decomposing instructions, and using a scheduler and arbiter to handle dependencies and execution order.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If memory access instructions accessing large memory regions are decomposed into multiple cache-line accesses, then memory access granularity is improved, but instruction count and memory usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the memory access management into two distinct components: a scoreboard that tracks uncompleted operations at the instruction level, and a dependency matrix that manages dependencies at the cache-line level. This segmentation allows the system to handle large memory regions as single instructions while maintaining fine-grained dependency tracking, thus avoiding the need to decompose instructions into multiple cache-line accesses.
2Reliability
If multiple memory access instructions accessing the same cache-line are executed in order, then data hazard prevention is ensured, but execution speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic execution by allowing out-of-order execution of memory access instructions that access different cache-lines, while maintaining in-order execution for instructions accessing the same cache-line through the dependency matrix. The system dynamically determines execution order based on real-time dependency relationships, enabling parallel execution of independent instructions and improving overall execution speed while preventing data hazards.
3Productivity
If instructions accessing different cache-lines are executed out-of-order, then execution efficiency is improved, but dependency tracking complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dependency matrix as an intermediary data structure that efficiently tracks dependencies between memory access instructions. The matrix uses cache-line addresses as indices to store dependency information, providing a compact and efficient mechanism for determining whether instructions can be executed out-of-order. This intermediary structure simplifies dependency tracking compared to more complex graph-based approaches while enabling efficient out-of-order execution.
4Ease of operation
If a scoreboard tracks uncompleted memory access operations, then execution control is improved, but memory usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the scoreboard to serve multiple functions: tracking uncompleted memory access operations, storing instruction identifiers, and maintaining associations with cache-line addresses. By making the scoreboard multi-functional, the system avoids the need for separate data structures for each function, thereby reducing overall memory usage while maintaining comprehensive execution control.
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes a scoreboard and a processor. The scoreboard includes scoreboard entries configured to store information regarding one or more uncompleted memory access operations. The scoreboard also includes a dependency matrix configured to store dependency information corresponding to the scoreboard entries. The processor is configured to retrieve a first memory access instruction that indicates a first address range of a first memory access operation, and to add an indication of the first memory access instruction to a first scoreboard entry. The processor is further configured to, based on determining that the first address range at least partially overlaps a second address range associated with a second scoreboard entry that corresponds to a second memory access instruction, set an element of the dependency matrix to have a has-dependency value indicating a dependency of the first scoreboard entry on the second scoreboard entry.