Message Management Module for Hardware Tag Matching

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

High-performance computing (HPC) systems face inefficiencies in message processing due to limitations in network adapter technologies, particularly with wildcard and unexpected messages, leading to disabled hardware tag matching and reduced processing efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A message management module is implemented to efficiently handle application receives and channel message event notifications, ensuring continuous hardware tag matching by utilizing a message tracking queue and determining appropriate channels for message processing, including both hardware and non-hardware channels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If hardware tag matching is enabled in network adapters, then message processing efficiency is improved, but the system cannot efficiently manage wildcard messages and unexpected messages from any source

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage processing efficiencyVSAvoidcapability to handle wildcard and unexpected messages

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a message management module as an intermediary between the hardware tag matching capability and the software application. This module includes a message tracking queue that monitors and manages message events, determining whether to enable or disable hardware tag matching based on the current message handling state. The intermediary resolves the contradiction by dynamically controlling hardware tag matching to be enabled only when appropriate, allowing both efficient processing and proper handling of wildcard/unexpected messages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the hardware tag matching functionality based on runtime conditions. The message management module continuously monitors message events and modifies the hardware tag matching enable/disable state accordingly. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to switch between high-performance mode (hardware tag matching enabled) and flexible mode (handling wildcard/unexpected messages), resolving the static contradiction between efficiency and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If hardware tag matching is disabled to handle wildcard and unexpected messages, then adaptability is improved, but message processing efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to handle wildcard and unexpected messagesVSAvoidmessage processing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The message management module serves as an intermediary that restores hardware tag matching capability after handling wildcard or unexpected messages. When such messages are processed, the module temporarily disables hardware tag matching, handles the message appropriately, then re-enables hardware tag matching to resume efficient processing. This intermediary control resolves the contradiction by ensuring hardware tag matching remains available while still permitting necessary flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic re-enabling of hardware tag matching functionality. After disabling hardware tag matching to handle wildcard or unexpected messages, the message management module periodically re-enables it once the exceptional message handling is complete. This periodic action ensures that the system alternates between flexible handling mode and efficient processing mode, resolving the contradiction over time rather than permanently sacrificing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If a message tracking queue is implemented to manage message events, then continuous hardware tag matching is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous hardware tag matching capabilityVSAvoidmessage management structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The message tracking queue is designed to autonomously monitor message events and automatically determine when to enable or disable hardware tag matching without requiring complex external control logic. The queue self-manages the state transitions based on predefined criteria, reducing the need for additional complex management infrastructure. This self-service approach enables continuous hardware tag matching while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10776185B2Messaging software management for network devices supporting hardware tag matching

Publication Date: 2020.09.15 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Techniques are disclosed for efficient handling of messages in computing systems that include tag matching capable hardware. A message management module provides for handling message events including application receives and channel notifications such that hardware tag matching can continuously run in hardware channels, such as network adapters. When the message event is an application receive the message management module adds the application receive to a tracking queue and determines if the application receive can be posted to a hardware channel capable of tag matching. When the message event is a channel notification, the message management module determines a message action using the message tracking queue and the information in the channel notification.