Processor Way Prediction Circuit for Cache Power Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-way cache systems in processors consume excessive power and generate heat while attempting to access large amounts of data quickly, lacking an efficient way to balance performance and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A processor with a prediction table, prediction logic circuit, and prediction verification circuit that dynamically determines which cache ways to keep open or closed based on confidence values, updating these values based on prediction accuracy to optimize power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If all cache ways are kept open to ensure rapid data access, then access speed is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the cache way configuration adaptive rather than static. The prediction table dynamically determines which cache ways to open or close based on predicted access patterns, and the system continuously adapts by updating predictions based on actual access outcomes. This resolves the contradiction by opening only necessary cache ways (reducing power) while maintaining fast access when needed (preserving speed).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action through way prediction - determining in advance which cache ways are likely to be accessed before actual access occurs. The prediction table pre-determines the optimal cache way configuration based on historical access patterns, allowing the system to proactively open only the necessary cache ways before access requests arrive, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining access speed.
2Productivity
If all cache ways are kept open to maintain performance, then cache performance is improved, but heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts cache way configuration based on predicted access patterns, opening only the minimum necessary cache ways to maintain performance. This dynamic adaptation reduces the number of active cache circuits, thereby reducing heat generation while preserving cache performance through intelligent selective opening of cache ways.
3Measurement precision
If confidence values are continuously updated to improve prediction accuracy, then prediction accuracy is improved, but circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through the prediction verification circuit that monitors actual cache access outcomes and uses this information to update confidence values in the prediction table. This feedback mechanism improves prediction accuracy by continuously learning from actual access patterns while maintaining relatively simple circuitry through efficient update strategies that adjust confidence values based on prediction correctness.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a processor including a prediction table, a prediction logic circuit, and a prediction verification circuit. The prediction table has a plurality of sets respectively corresponding to a plurality of cache sets of a cache memory in the cache system, each of the sets has a plurality of confidence values, and the prediction table provides the confidence values of a selected set according to the index. The prediction logic circuit receives the confidence values of the selected set, and generates a prediction result by judging whether each of the confidence values of the selected set is larger than a threshold value or not. The prediction verification circuit receives the prediction result, generates a correct/incorrect information according to the prediction result, and generates an update information according to the correct/incorrect information. Wherein, the prediction verification circuit updates the confidence values of the prediction table according to the update information.