NUMA Interconnect Dynamic Compression for Remote Bandwidth

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA) architectures do not effectively address data access needs for remotely located data, resulting in substantially lower remote memory access bandwidth, typically around 30% of peak bandwidth, which is inadequate for enterprise and cloud computing applications.

Innovation Solution

An interconnect system with integrated compression and decompression capabilities that uses run-time profiling to dynamically optimize data transfer efficiency and adapt to different memory access patterns, providing adaptive compression and decompression schemes based on bandwidth utilization thresholds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If conventional NUMA architecture is used for multi-processor platforms, then local memory access bandwidth is maintained at peak levels, but remote memory access bandwidth deteriorates to only 30% of peak bandwidth

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote memory access bandwidthVSAvoidinterconnect complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an interconnect fabric as an intermediary between processors and memory systems, enabling optimized remote memory access paths. The interconnect fabric mediates communication between processors across different memory domains, providing dedicated pathways that bypass conventional bottlenecks and achieve higher remote bandwidth without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments memory access paths into local and remote domains, with specialized interconnect pathways for each. By dividing the memory access architecture into distinct segments with optimized routing, the system can maintain peak performance for local accesses while providing enhanced dedicated paths for remote accesses, resolving the bandwidth limitation without requiring complete architectural redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If data is transferred over interconnect with compression, then data transfer efficiency improves, but processing overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer efficiencyVSAvoidcompression processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary compression of data before transmission over the interconnect fabric. By compressing data in advance at the source processor, the system reduces the volume of data that needs to be transmitted, thereby improving overall data transfer efficiency. The compression is performed as a preliminary step before the data enters the interconnect pathway, allowing the transmission phase to be faster and more efficient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces conventional uncompressed data transmission with a compression-based transmission mechanism. This substitution transforms the data transfer process from moving raw data to moving compressed data, significantly reducing transmission bandwidth requirements and improving transfer efficiency. The compression mechanism substitutes for what would otherwise require larger, faster interconnect bandwidth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4127952B1Dynamic compression for multiprocessor platforms and interconnects
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 INTEL CORP
  • EP4127952B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4127952B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4127952B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an interconnect for a non-uniform memory architecture platform to provide remote access where data can dynamically and adaptively be compressed and decompressed at the interconnect link. A requesting interconnect link can add a delay to before transmitting requested data onto an interconnect bus, compress the data before transmission, or packetize and compress data before transmission. Likewise, a remote interconnect link can decompress request data.