Memory Endianness Compatibility via Bit Reordering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems face challenges in supporting multiple endianness formats, requiring complex calculations and additional operations to switch between big endian and little endian formats, which can lead to inefficiencies and increased processing requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves receiving bytes in a particular endianness format, reordering them on a bytewise basis to a bit-sequential format using a hardware flag, and adjusting shift directions based on the endianness format, allowing for transparent support of both big endian and little endian compatibility without knowledge of the total number of bytes, thereby simplifying shift operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex calculations and additional operations are performed to switch between big endian and little endian formats, then endianness compatibility is achieved, but processing efficiency deteriorates and calculation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining the endianness format of incoming data before storage operations. The controller identifies whether data is in big endian or little endian format upfront, allowing it to pre-configure the shift direction and storage sequence. This preliminary determination eliminates the need for complex runtime calculations and format switching operations, thereby maintaining both endianness compatibility and processing efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex calculations and additional operations are performed to switch between big endian and little endian formats, then endianness compatibility is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the shift direction configurable based on the detected endianness format. Rather than implementing complex format conversion logic, the system dynamically adjusts the shift direction parameter (first shift direction for big endian, second shift direction for little endian) based on the incoming data format. This dynamic adaptation simplifies the overall device architecture while maintaining support for multiple endianness formats.
3Ease of operation
If shift operations are performed without knowledge of total byte count, then processing is simplified, but precision in bit reordering may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the shift direction parameter based on the endianness format of the incoming data. When big endian data is detected, a first shift direction is applied; when little endian data is detected, a second shift direction is applied. This parameter adaptation ensures that bits are reordered with precision appropriate for each format, while the shift operations themselves remain simple and do not require knowledge of the total byte count.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples of the present disclosure provide apparatuses and methods for multiple endianness compatibility. An example method comprises receiving a plurality of bytes and determining a particular endianness format of the plurality of bytes. The method can include, responsive to determining the particular endianness format is a first endianness format, reordering bits of each byte of the plurality of bytes on a bytewise basis, storing the reordered plurality of bytes in an array of memory cells, and adjusting a shift direction associated with performing a number of operations on the plurality of bytes stored in the array. The method can include, responsive to determining the particular endianness format is a second endianness format, storing the plurality of bytes in the array without reordering bits of the plurality of bytes.