PE Architecture State Save-Restore Hardware for Low-Latency Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional software-based and retention flop-based solutions for saving and restoring processing element (PE) architecture state information result in high latency, increased power consumption, and circuit area due to slow software access and the need for additional hardware resources.
Innovation Solution
A hardware-based approach for saving and restoring PE architecture state information using sequencing elements and routing interfaces to manage state transitions, allowing parallel processing and reducing the need for software intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If software-based solutions are used for saving and restoring PE architecture state information, then the system can maintain state information, but latency increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces software-based state saving and restoration with a hardware-based system using sequencing elements and routing interfaces. This substitution of mechanical/software systems with hardware circuits eliminates software access latency and enables parallel state management operations, directly resolving the latency issue while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sequencing elements as intermediary components that manage the saving and restoration of PE architecture state information. These sequencing elements coordinate state transitions and manage data flow between PEs and memory, enabling efficient hardware-based state management that reduces latency compared to software approaches.
2Reliability
If retention flop-based solutions are used for saving and restoring PE architecture state information, then state information can be preserved, but circuit area increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal routing interface that serves multiple functions: it manages state information saving, restoration, and coordinates sequencing operations for multiple PEs. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for dedicated retention flops for each PE, reducing overall circuit area while maintaining state preservation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the state saving and restoration functions into a unified hardware-based system that shares routing interfaces and sequencing elements across multiple PEs. By combining these functions and resources, the system reduces the total circuit area required compared to individual retention flop implementations for each PE.
3Reliability
If retention flop-based solutions are used for saving and restoring PE architecture state information, then state information can be preserved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by enabling state saving and restoration operations only when needed, controlled by sequencing elements that manage state transitions. This on-demand approach powered by hardware circuits reduces continuous power consumption compared to retention flop-based systems that require constant power to maintain state information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces power-intensive retention flop circuits with a hardware-based sequencing and routing system that manages state information more efficiently. This substitution reduces power consumption by eliminating the continuous power requirements of retention flops while maintaining state preservation through controlled saving and restoration operations.
4Reliability
If conventional solutions are used for saving and restoring PE architecture state information, then state information can be preserved, but PE performance is impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by saving PE architecture state information before state transitions occur and restoring it before transitions back. The sequencing elements proactively manage these save/restore operations, ensuring state information is preserved without interfering with PE performance during active computation periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces routing interfaces as intermediary components that handle state information transfer between PEs and memory without impacting PE performance. These intermediaries manage data flow efficiently, allowing PE operations to proceed independently while state management occurs through the routing interface, thus preserving performance.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for hardware-based saving and restoring of architecture state information for processing elements (PEs). According to certain aspects, one or more circuit elements trigger saving of architecture state information of at least one PE to at least one memory prior to the at least one PE transitioning from a first state to a second state and triggering restoration of the architecture state information from the at least one memory to the at least one PE prior to the at least one PE transitioning from the second state to the first state.