Reconfigurable Processor Interrupt Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reconfigurable processors face significant overhead when handling interrupts during loop operations due to the need for context saving across multiple register files, leading to inefficiencies and increased latency.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable processor architecture that designates specific processing elements for interrupt handling, allowing interrupts to be processed in parallel with loop operations by reserving a portion of the central register file for interrupt handling and mapping instructions to exclude designated processing elements, thereby minimizing latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If context saving is performed across multiple register files when an interrupt occurs, then interrupt handling is possible, but excessive overhead is created
Solution Approach 1:
The processor is segmented into multiple processing elements with dedicated register files. Each processing element has its own register file, allowing interrupt context to be saved in a localized manner rather than requiring access to multiple distributed register files. This segmentation reduces the complexity and overhead of context saving during interrupts.
Solution Approach 2:
The stack pointer is pre-configured to point to a reserved region in the register file before interrupts occur. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for dynamic stack allocation and context saving operations during interrupt handling, significantly reducing interrupt overhead and enabling faster response times.
2Productivity
If all processing elements are used for loop operations, then processing throughput is maximized, but interrupt response capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different processing elements are assigned different functions based on local quality principles. Some processing elements are dedicated to loop operations while others are reserved for interrupt handling. This differentiation allows the system to maintain high throughput for loop operations while ensuring timely response to interrupts, as interrupt-handling elements are immediately available when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor architecture dynamically allocates processing elements between loop operations and interrupt handling based on system state. When interrupts are pending, processing elements can be dynamically reassigned from loop operations to interrupt processing, optimizing the balance between throughput and response time according to actual workload demands.
Data Source
AI summary
An interrupt handling technology and a reconfigurable processor are provided. The reconfigurable processor includes a plurality of processing elements, and some of the processing elements are designated for interrupt handling. When an interrupt request occurs while the reconfigurable processor is executing a loop operation, the designated processing elements may process the interrupt request. The interrupt handling technology allows the interrupt request and the loop operation to be processed in parallel.