Communication Apparatus RDMA Data Alignment and Division

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication technologies face inefficiencies in data transfer due to misalignment of data packets during RDMA communication, leading to suboptimal reading and writing processes, particularly at address ranges including divisional points, which degrade data transfer efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A communication apparatus and method that receive alignment specifying information to calculate divisional locations for data transmission, ensuring alignment at integral multiples of a given data width, thereby optimizing data transfer by dividing data to align with specified memory boundaries, reducing redundant reads and writes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data is divided into packets for transmission, then data can be transmitted across network boundaries, but data packets become misaligned with memory boundaries causing redundant reads and writes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer efficiencyVSAvoidredundant read/write operations
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and specifying alignment information before data transmission. The alignment specifying information indicates which main memory should align the requested data, allowing the receiving end to prepare appropriate alignment operations in advance, thus avoiding redundant reads and writes during actual data transfer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the data transmission process into aligned portions by calculating divisional locations that align with memory boundaries. The data is divided into segments that start and end at alignment boundaries (integral multiples of given data width), ensuring each segment can be read or written in a single operation without crossing memory boundaries

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If data is read/written at non-aligned address ranges, then flexible addressing is achieved, but the same addresses are accessed multiple times degrading efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaddressing flexibilityVSAvoidreading and writing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of address alignment by introducing alignment specifying information that indicates which main memory should perform alignment. This parameter change transforms the data division strategy from fixed boundary-based to flexible alignment-based, allowing adaptation to different memory configurations while maintaining efficient aligned access

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The alignment specification is performed in advance before data transmission, allowing the system to determine optimal divisional locations that align with memory boundaries. This preliminary alignment calculation enables subsequent data operations to proceed efficiently without redundant accesses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2375325B1Communication apparatus, method for controlling communication apparatus, and control program for reading or writing an address range
Publication Date: 2017.07.19 FUJITSU LTD
  • EP2375325B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2375325B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2375325B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A communication apparatus including: a receiving portion that receives alignment specifying information, the alignment specifying information indicating which of main memories included in a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus to align the requested data; a division location calculating portion that calculates a divisional location of the requested data so that the divisional location of the requested data becomes an alignment boundary on the main memory included in any one of the first and the second information processing apparatuses specified by the received alignment specifying information, the alignment boundary being integral multiples of a given data width; and a transmitting portion that divides the requested data stored into the main memory in the second information processing apparatus based on the calculated divisional location, and transmits the divided data to the first information processing apparatus.