Processor Performance Counting via Command-Set Replay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processor devices face challenges in efficiently collecting performance information due to limitations in counting events of interest, particularly when the number of events exceeds the number of available registers, which affects the accuracy and efficiency of performance profiling.
Innovation Solution
A processor device configuration that includes a scheduler to manage command sets and performance counters, allowing for repeated processing of operations to count events of interest, with registers storing count values, ensuring consistent command and data consistency for replay, enabling effective correlation of performance information across multiple event sets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of registers is increased to count all events of interest simultaneously, then the completeness of performance information collection is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the collection of performance information by dividing events of interest into multiple groups, where each group is counted in a separate replay pass. This allows the system to collect comprehensive performance data without requiring a large number of registers simultaneously, as each replay pass focuses on a specific subset of events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic replay actions to collect performance information. Instead of attempting to count all events simultaneously in a single pass, the system performs multiple sequential replay passes, each dedicated to counting a specific group of events. This periodic approach enables complete performance profiling with limited register resources.
2Productivity
If multiple command sets are processed simultaneously to improve productivity, then the efficiency of performance collection is improved, but the accuracy of event counting deteriorates when events exceed register capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments both the command sets and events of interest into manageable groups. Each replay pass processes a specific group of events from potentially multiple command sets, ensuring accurate counting within the register capacity. This segmentation allows the system to maintain measurement precision while ultimately processing comprehensive workloads across multiple passes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by systematically processing different groups of events across multiple replay passes. Each pass contributes to the overall performance profiling, and the cumulative effect of all passes provides complete and accurate performance information without losing productivity in the long term.
3Adaptability or versatility
If replay is implemented without command-set-based organization, then the flexibility of processing is improved, but the consistency of commands and data for replay deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by organizing commands into structured command sets before replay. This pre-organization ensures that commands and their associated data maintain consistent relationships during replay, enabling reliable performance measurement while preserving the flexibility to process different command sets in various replay passes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal command-set-based replay framework that can handle multiple types of commands and events systematically. This framework provides both consistency through structured organization and adaptability by allowing different command sets to be processed according to the same reliable methodology across multiple replay passes.
Data Source
AI summary
A processor device includes a scheduler and a performance counter. The scheduler schedules commands of a first command set and commands of a second command set for a functional unit. A performance counter counts numbers of times where events of interest respectively occur while the functional unit processes first operations directed by the first command set and second operations directed by the second command set. The commands of the first command set are repeatedly scheduled such that the numbers of times for all the events of interest are counted with regard to the first operations. The commands of the second command set are scheduled after the numbers of times for all the events of interest are counted with regard to the first operations.