Processor Macroinstruction for Control Index Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing processors require numerous instructions to generate control indexes for permute and shuffle operations, leading to increased processing time, resource utilization, and power consumption, and often necessitate regeneration or retrieval from memory.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating instructions that can generate control indexes entirely within a single macroinstruction, using sequences of non-negative integers in numerical order or with specific patterns, to reduce the number of instructions needed and improve efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional multi-instruction methods are used to generate control indexes, then control indexes can be generated with existing processor instructions, but processing time increases and resource utilization increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol index generation capabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate instructions (load instruction, comparison instructions, bit manipulation instructions) into a single macroinstruction that performs all control index generation operations atomically. This merging eliminates the sequential execution overhead and reduces processing time while maintaining the same functional capability of generating control indexes for permute and shuffle operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The macroinstruction performs preliminary generation of control indexes within the same instruction cycle that loads the packed data, rather than requiring separate subsequent instructions. This preliminary action allows the control indexes to be ready immediately when needed, eliminating waiting time and reducing the overall instruction sequence length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If traditional multi-instruction methods are used to generate control indexes, then control indexes can be generated using existing instructions, but resource utilization increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol index generation capabilityVSAvoidresource utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple instruction operations into a single macroinstruction, reducing the total number of instructions that need to be decoded, fetched, and executed. This consolidation decreases resource utilization by reducing the workload on instruction pipelines, decoder units, and execution resources while maintaining full control index generation functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The macroinstruction is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: loading packed data, generating control indexes, and making them available for immediate use. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated instructions for each operation, thereby reducing overall resource utilization while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional methods are used to generate control indexes, then existing instructions can be utilized, but the number of instructions increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstruction compatibilityVSAvoidinstruction efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple instructions into one macroinstruction, directly reducing the instruction count from 4+ separate instructions to 1 unified instruction. This merging maintains adaptability by working with existing packed data formats and control index requirements while dramatically improving productivity by reducing the number of instruction cycles needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If control indexes are generated separately, then existing instruction pipelines can be used, but memory retrieval is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstruction executionVSAvoidmemory retrieval time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The macroinstruction performs the control index generation as a preliminary action within the same execution cycle as the data load operation. This eliminates the need to store control indexes in memory and then retrieve them later, as they are generated in-place and immediately available for use, thereby eliminating memory retrieval time while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10565283B2Processors, methods, systems, and instructions to generate sequences of consecutive integers in numerical order

Publication Date: 2020.02.18 INTEL CORP

AI summary

A method of an aspect includes receiving an instruction indicating a destination storage location. A result is stored in the destination storage location in response to the instruction. The result includes a sequence of at least four consecutive non-negative integers in numerical order. In an aspect, the instruction does not indicate a source packed data operand having a plurality of packed data elements in an architecturally-visible storage location. Other methods, apparatus, systems, and instructions are disclosed.