Reconfigurable Array Interrupt Handling With Fast Context Restore
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reconfigurable arrays face significant memory overhead and complexity when handling interrupts, particularly in coarse grained arrays, which can lead to prolonged context switching times and failure to meet real-time constraints.
Innovation Solution
A method that suspends operations in a reconfigurable array upon an interrupt request, stores and restores register values using a stack or dedicated registers, and resumes operations after completing the interrupt service, while also considering a programmed threshold time to determine the appropriateness of interrupt handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional interrupt handling methods are used in reconfigurable arrays, then interrupt requests can be serviced, but memory overhead and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the context storage function from general memory to dedicated register files within each processing element. When an interrupt occurs, only the necessary register values are saved to these dedicated storage units rather than using general-purpose memory, thereby reducing memory overhead and system complexity while maintaining interrupt handling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a context manager as an intermediary component that coordinates between processing elements, interrupt controllers, and register files. This mediator handles the complex tasks of saving and restoring context automatically, reducing the burden on the overall system and simplifying the interrupt handling mechanism.
2Reliability
If context switching is performed to handle interrupts in reconfigurable arrays, then interrupt service can be provided, but context switching time increases and real-time constraints may not be met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the context storage into multiple dedicated register files within each processing element rather than using a single unified context storage area. This segmentation allows for faster, more targeted context saving and restoration operations, reducing the overall context switching time and enabling real-time interrupt handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares context storage structures (dedicated register files) in advance within each processing element before interrupts occur. This preliminary arrangement of storage resources eliminates the need for dynamic memory allocation and complex context management during interrupt handling, significantly reducing context switching time.
3Reliability
If all register values are stored for interrupt handling, then complete context restoration is possible, but memory overhead and overhead time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing dedicated register files specifically for context storage within each processing element, rather than using general-purpose memory for all context storage needs. This localized storage solution reduces the time and overhead associated with saving and restoring context while ensuring complete context restoration for interrupt handling.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, medium, and apparatus to effectively handle an interrupt in a reconfigurable array. In the method, the reconfigurable array pauses execution of an operation when an interrupt request occurs, and after storing register values of a register to be used for handling the interrupt request, an interrupt service is performed by select processing units of the reconfigurable array in response to the interrupt request. Upon completion of the interrupt service, the register values are restored, and the reconfigurable array resumes execution of the operation.