PCI-E Memory Segmentation for CPU Bandwidth Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

In existing server systems, when multiple CPUs access data stored in a CPU's memory through a PCI-E bus, it leads to bandwidth occupation, reducing the utilization rate of CPUs as data access involves multiple buses, causing inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

The operating system configures address information for PCI-E devices to store data in a PCI-E memory, allowing a specific CPU to access and process the data, thereby avoiding unnecessary bandwidth occupation by optimizing data access paths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If PCI-E devices store data in CPU memory, then data access is simplified, but bus bandwidth is occupied and CPU utilization rate decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata access simplicityVSAvoidCPU utilization rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments memory resources by introducing PCI-E memory as a separate memory space from CPU memory. PCI-E devices store data in PCI-E memory while CPUs access data in CPU memory, dividing the memory architecture into distinct segments that operate independently, thereby eliminating bus bandwidth conflicts and improving CPU utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple CPUs access data through a single CPU's memory, then data sharing is enabled, but bus bandwidth between CPUs is occupied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata sharing capabilityVSAvoidbus bandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces PCI-E memory as an intermediary storage layer between PCI-E devices and multiple CPUs. Instead of multiple CPUs directly accessing a single CPU's memory through occupied bus bandwidth, the system uses PCI-E memory as a mediator that PCI-E devices can store data in, and CPUs can then access independently, reducing bus bandwidth consumption while maintaining data sharing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2620876B1Method and apparatus for data processing, PCI-e bus system and server
Publication Date: 2018.01.24 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2620876B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2620876B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2620876B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a data processing method and apparatus, a PCI-E bus system, and a server. The method includes: configuring address information of a PCI-E memory of a PCI-E device, so that the PCI-E device stores data received by the PCI-E device in the PCI-E memory; and controlling a CPU to access the data stored in the PCI-E memory, so that the CPU processes the data. In the embodiments of the present invention, a problem that in the prior art, because the PCI-E device stores the data received by the PCI-E device in a memory of the CPU, when the data stored in the memory of the CPU is accessed by another CPU, a part of a bandwidth of a bus between the another CPU and the CPU is occupied and a bus through which the CPU accesses the memory that corresponds the CPU is occupied can be avoided, thereby improving a utilization rate of the CPU.