Multilevel Conversion Table Cache for Guest Instruction Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital computer systems face performance penalties due to significant overhead in code transformation and translation processes, particularly in just-in-time compilation and interpretation methods, which lead to delays and inefficiencies in processing and memory management.
Innovation Solution
A hardware-based acceleration method for translating guest instructions into native instructions using a two-level conversion process with hardware-accelerated units, enabling rapid conversion and execution of guest instructions as native instructions, thereby reducing overhead and improving performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If just-in-time compilation is used to translate guest instructions to native instructions, then translation completeness is improved, but processing speed deteriorates due to significant overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the translation process into two distinct levels: a first level using a conversion table for rapid translation of common instructions, and a second level using just-in-time compilation for complex instructions that require partial translation. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both speed (through table lookup for simple cases) and completeness (through JIT compilation for complex cases).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial translation by using the conversion table to handle the majority of translation needs for common instructions, and only invoking the more resource-intensive JIT compilation process when necessary for complex instructions. This partial action approach minimizes overhead while maintaining translation completeness.
2Loss of energy
If interpretation mode is used to translate instructions, then overhead is reduced, but execution performance deteriorates due to poorly optimized code
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the instruction set into two categories: common instructions handled by the conversion table and complex instructions handled by JIT compilation. This segmentation enables the system to use the low-overhead interpretation approach for simple cases while reserving the higher-performance JIT approach for complex cases, thus improving overall execution performance without excessive overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the translation parameter (method) dynamically based on the instruction type. For common instructions, it uses table lookup with minimal overhead; for complex instructions, it switches to JIT compilation to generate optimized code. This parameter change allows the system to adapt to different instruction requirements and achieve better overall performance.
3Speed
If conversion tables are used for hardware-based acceleration, then translation speed is improved, but translation completeness deteriorates for complex instructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the translation responsibility between two mechanisms: the conversion table handles simple, common instructions with high speed, while the JIT compilation mechanism handles complex instructions requiring complete translation. This segmentation ensures both speed (through table lookup) and completeness (through JIT for complex cases) are achieved.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the two-level translation system) that bridges the gap between the fast but incomplete conversion table approach and the complete but slower JIT compilation approach. The system uses the conversion table as the primary intermediary for common cases and invokes JIT compilation as a secondary intermediary when the conversion table cannot fully translate an instruction.
4Productivity
If JIT compilation is used to create optimized translated code, then execution performance is improved, but memory management overhead increases due to allocation and relocation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial JIT compilation only when necessary for complex instructions, rather than compiling all instructions. This partial action reduces the total amount of memory allocation and management required, thereby reducing overhead while still achieving performance improvements for the critical complex instruction cases.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for translating instructions for a processor. The method includes accessing a guest instruction and performing a first level translation of the guest instruction using a first level conversion table. The method further includes outputting a resulting native instruction when the first level translation proceeds to completion. A second level translation of the guest instruction is performed using a second level conversion table when the first level translation does not proceed to completion, wherein the second level translation further processes the guest instruction based upon a partial translation from the first level conversion table. The resulting native instruction is output when the second level translation proceeds to completion.