Register Renaming Circuit for Mixed-Instruction Register Conflicts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processor architectures face challenges with architectural register dependencies, out-of-order and in-order executions, circuit complexities, and inefficient compiler technologies, leading to inefficient instruction pipeline designs and high silicon areas, which are not suitable for high-performance computing.
Innovation Solution
A hardware implementation of a register renaming circuit with a conflict detector and mapping circuit to dynamically resolve register conflicts by renaming architectural registers to different physical registers during the instruction pipeline stage, using a conflict detector circuit and a mapping circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional compiler technologies are used to resolve register conflicts, then the implementation is simple, but the resolution efficiency is low and performance is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a register renaming circuit as an intermediary component between the instruction pipeline and physical registers. This circuit includes a conflict detector that identifies register conflicts and a mapping circuit that resolves them by assigning alternative physical registers, thereby improving resolution efficiency without requiring complex compiler interventions
Solution Approach 2:
The register renaming circuit performs self-service by automatically detecting and resolving its own register conflicts during instruction execution. The conflict detector continuously monitors register usage, and when conflicts are detected, the mapping circuit autonomously renames registers without external compiler assistance, enabling real-time resolution
2Productivity
If hardware solutions are implemented to resolve register conflicts, then the resolution efficiency is improved, but the silicon area increases and circuit complexity grows
Solution Approach 1:
The register renaming circuit is segmented into distinct functional modules: a conflict detector unit that identifies register conflicts and a mapping circuit unit that resolves them. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently and reduces the overall silicon area compared to a monolithic hardware solution
Solution Approach 2:
The mapping circuit implements dynamic register renaming by maintaining a mapping table that can be updated in real-time during instruction execution. This dynamic approach allows the circuit to adapt to different register conflict scenarios without requiring dedicated hardware for each case, reducing silicon area while maintaining high resolution efficiency
3Productivity
If architectural register dependencies are maintained, then the instruction accuracy is preserved, but the pipeline throughput is reduced due to conflicts
Solution Approach 1:
The mapping circuit creates copies of architectural register mappings in a mapping table, maintaining multiple mappings between architectural and physical registers. When conflicts occur, alternative mappings are used, preserving the original architectural register semantics while enabling parallel execution and maintaining instruction accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The register renaming circuit implements feedback mechanisms where the conflict detector continuously monitors register usage and provides information to the mapping circuit. The mapping circuit updates the mapping table based on detected conflicts, and this updated mapping information is fed back to subsequent instruction decoding, ensuring accuracy is maintained while enabling high throughput
Data Source
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AI summary
A technique for register renaming is disclosed. A conflict detector circuit is configured to detect a register conflict between a first decoded instruction and a second decoded instruction. The register conflict is associated with a first architectural register and a first physical register corresponding to the first architectural register. A mapping circuit is configured to change the first architectural register to a second architectural register and to map the second architectural register to a second physical register different from the first physical register. The first decoded instruction and the second decoded instruction are decoded from a single thread in a processing element (PE).