Prefetch Buffer for Data Interface Bridge Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory sub-systems face challenges in efficiently accessing data due to latency issues when reading data sequentially from non-deterministic data interfaces, such as PCI-E, as they require direct access from the memory device, which can lead to slower read access and reduced bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a prefetch buffer within a data interface bridge that stores prefetched data from a memory device, allowing for faster read access by providing data from the buffer instead of the memory device, especially for sequential read requests, thereby reducing latency and increasing read bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is read sequentially from a non-deterministic data interface (PCI-E) directly from the memory device, then the interface compatibility is maintained, but the read access latency increases and read bandwidth decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a prefetch buffer as an intermediary component between the memory device and the processor. This buffer receives data from the non-deterministic PCI-E interface and stores it, allowing subsequent read requests to be served from the buffer rather than directly from the memory device, thereby reducing latency while maintaining interface compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements prefetching where data is fetched in advance from the memory device and stored in the buffer before it is actually needed by the processor. This preliminary action allows the processor to read data faster from the buffer when requests arrive, reducing read access latency for sequential data access patterns
2Reliability
If data is read sequentially from a non-deterministic data interface (PCI-E) directly from the memory device, then the interface compatibility is maintained, but the read bandwidth is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The prefetch buffer acts as a mediator that decouples the slow non-deterministic PCI-E interface from the faster processor read operations. By buffering data and serving read requests from the buffer, the system maintains PCI-E compatibility while achieving higher effective read bandwidth through faster data delivery to the processor
Solution Approach 2:
By prefetching data in advance and storing it in the buffer, the system prepares data for rapid delivery to the processor. This preliminary data retrieval allows subsequent read operations to occur at higher speeds from the buffer, thereby increasing read bandwidth while the buffer is refilled from the slower PCI-E interface in the background
3Loss of time
If a prefetch buffer is introduced to reduce latency and increase bandwidth, then read access performance improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The prefetch buffer is implemented as a relatively simple intermediary buffering structure within the interface bridge. This straightforward buffer mechanism, rather than a complex processing unit, provides latency reduction by simply storing and serving data, thereby achieving performance improvement with minimal added complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a simple data copying mechanism where data is copied from the PCI-E interface into the prefetch buffer and then copied to the processor. This straightforward copy-based approach, rather than complex data transformation or processing, achieves the performance benefits while adding minimal structural complexity to the interface bridge
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments described herein provide for using a prefetch buffer for a data interface bridge, which can be used with a memory sub-system to increase read access or sequential read access of data from a memory device coupled to the data interface bridge.