Memory Read-Ahead Using Queue IDs for Multicore Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional memory systems struggle to perform read-ahead operations effectively due to the intermingling of data access requests from multicore hardware processors, leading to reduced opportunities for optimizing data retrieval and increased latency.
Innovation Solution
Performing read-ahead operations based on read size and queue identifier of a read request, allowing the memory system to fetch data sequentially when requests meet certain criteria, such as equaling the maximum data transfer size and specifying subsequent memory locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If read-ahead operations are performed in conventional memory systems with multicore processors, then data retrieval opportunities are reduced due to intermingled requests, but implementing queue identifier-based read-ahead would increase system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the stream of read requests by assigning each request a queue identifier (QID) that indicates its source core. This segmentation allows the memory system to separate and independently process read-ahead opportunities for each core, preventing intermingled requests from different cores from interfering with each other's read-ahead operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing read-ahead operations proactively when a read request meets specific criteria (read size equals maximum data transfer size and specifies a subsequent memory location). The system fetches additional data blocks before they are explicitly requested, storing them in a buffer for future quick access, thereby reducing latency for subsequent read operations.
2Loss of time
If read-ahead operations are performed without criteria filtering, then more data is fetched proactively, but this increases unnecessary data fetching and reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters used to determine when read-ahead operations should be performed. Specifically, it evaluates the read size parameter and the memory location parameter of incoming read requests. Only when the read size equals the maximum data transfer size and the request specifies a subsequent memory location does the system trigger read-ahead, ensuring that proactive fetching occurs only when beneficial.
3Device complexity
If the memory system processes all read requests uniformly, then processing is simpler, but opportunities for optimizing sequential data access are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by treating different read requests differently based on their specific characteristics. Instead of uniform processing, the system evaluates each request's read size and memory location to determine whether it qualifies for read-ahead optimization. This localized decision-making enables selective optimization of sequential access patterns while maintaining simple processing for non-qualifying requests.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments provide for performing one or more data read-ahead operations on a memory system based on a read size and a queue identifier of a read request. In particular, a memory system of some embodiments is configured to perform at least one read-ahead operation when an individual read request, received from a host system in association with a queue identifier, has a read size equal to a maximum data transfer size (MDTS) of the memory system.