Ordering Scope Manager for Conditional Task Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

In multi-core processing systems, task switching between ordering scopes incurs significant delays due to the need for full context switching, especially when switching between tasks with no regard for the next task's context, leading to inefficiencies in processing packet data.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an ordering scope manager that determines whether an incremental ordering scope transition can be performed without a task switch by using hint information to allow processor cores to transition between tasks without saving and loading context information, based on the state of the ordering scope table and task relationships.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If full context switching is performed for every ordering scope boundary, then task switching reliability is ensured, but processing time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetask switching reliabilityVSAvoidtask switching delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of context switching behavior based on task relationship status. When tasks are identified as related through the ordering scope table, the system transitions from full context switching to incremental context switching, thereby reducing switching time while maintaining reliability for related tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the context switching mechanism based on the ordering scope table state. The task manager evaluates whether tasks are related and adapts the switching behavior accordingly - using full context switching for unrelated tasks and incremental context switching for related tasks, making the switching process dynamic rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If context information is saved and loaded for every task switch, then task execution accuracy is maintained, but processing efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetask execution accuracyVSAvoidprocessing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of performing complete context switching for all tasks, the system applies partial context switching only when necessary. Related tasks that can continue execution without full context restoration use incremental switching, while only unrelated tasks trigger full context save and load operations, thereby improving overall processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the context switching parameter based on task relationship determination. By using the ordering scope table to identify related tasks, the system adjusts the level of context switching from complete to partial, optimizing the balance between execution accuracy and processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the processor core waits for context switch completion before transitioning, then task switch reliability is ensured, but throughput is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetask switch reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The task manager performs preliminary identification of related tasks using the ordering scope table before the actual context switching occurs. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare for incremental context switching, enabling the processor core to transition between related tasks without waiting for full context switch completion, thereby improving throughput while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically determines the appropriate switching mechanism based on real-time task relationships. By continuously monitoring the ordering scope table, the system can identify opportunities for incremental switching and adjust the waiting behavior accordingly, optimizing both reliability and throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9372724B2System and method for conditional task switching during ordering scope transitions

Publication Date: 2016.06.21 TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO LTD

AI summary

A data processing system includes a processor core and a hardware module. The processor core performs tasks on data packets. The hardware module stores a first ordering scope identifier at a first storage location of the ordering scope manager. The first ordering scope identifier indicates a first ordering scope that a first task is operating in. The ordering scope manager increments the first ordering scope identifier to create a new ordering scope identifier. In response to determining that the processor core is authorized to transition the first task from the first ordering scope to a second ordering scope associated with the new ordering scope identifier, the ordering scope manager provides hint information to the processor core. The processor core transitions from the first ordering scope to the second ordering scope without completing a task switch in response to the hint information.