Resource Allocation Engine for Multiprocessor Deadlock Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multiprocessor environments, existing resource allocation methods face challenges such as resource allocation deadlocks, wastage of CPU bandwidth, and increased software complexity due to the need for mutual exclusion mechanisms and complex resource management.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a resource allocation engine (RAE) that uses transaction-based atomic allocation and release of global common resources, eliminating the need for multiple mutex protections and ensuring fairness in resource allocation by managing resources in a singular entity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mutex protections are used to manage resource allocation in multi-CPU environments, then resource access safety is improved, but CPU bandwidth is wasted due to tracking mutex availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the mutex tracking function from the CPU workload by implementing a dedicated Resource Allocation Engine (RAE) that autonomously manages mutex availability. This separates the resource management function from the main CPU tasks, allowing CPUs to focus on productive work while the RAE handles mutex tracking independently, thus reducing CPU bandwidth waste while maintaining resource access safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the RAE with its internal mutex tracker) that mediates between multiple CPUs and the resource pool. Instead of CPUs directly tracking and managing mutexes, they interact with the RAE which maintains the centralised mutex state, eliminating the need for CPUs to waste bandwidth on tracking operations while ensuring consistent resource access control
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional software solutions are used for resource allocation, then implementation simplicity is improved, but resource allocation deadlocks occur
Solution Approach 1:
The RAE acts as an intermediary that implements a sophisticated resource allocation algorithm (trying to allocate resources in order of resource ID, with fallback to alternative orders) while presenting a simple interface to CPUs. This mediator handles the complex deadlock prevention logic internally, maintaining implementation simplicity from the CPU perspective while ensuring high reliability through advanced allocation strategies
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of manual mutex management and software-based deadlock detection with a hardware-accelerated RAE that autonomously manages resource allocation. This substitution of the resource allocation mechanism with a dedicated engine eliminates deadlocks through systematic resource ordering while maintaining ease of use for CPU applications
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple resource types are allocated individually, then flexibility in resource management is improved, but complexity of resource allocation increases and deadlocks become more likely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual resource allocation operations into a single atomic transaction handled by the RAE. When a CPU requests multiple resource types, the RAE processes them together in a coordinated manner, trying different allocation orders (e.g., R1-R2-R3, then R3-R2-R1) to ensure all resources are allocated or none are, preventing deadlocks while maintaining flexibility in supporting multiple resource types
Solution Approach 2:
The RAE implements a universal resource allocation mechanism that handles multiple resource types through a unified interface and consistent allocation strategy. The same RAE engine manages all resource types using the same deadlock prevention logic, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to flexibly allocate different resource types according to varying CPU needs
4Speed
If CPUs allocate resources simultaneously without coordination, then allocation speed is improved, but fairness in resource allocation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The RAE serves as a coordinating intermediary that receives simultaneous allocation requests from multiple CPUs and processes them in a fair manner. It maintains a queue of pending requests and allocates resources in the order received, ensuring that CPU-X and CPU-Y both get fair access to available resources without one starving the other, while still maintaining high allocation speed through efficient batch processing
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and apparatus are provided for accelerated atomic resource allocation on a multiprocessor platform. In particular, a resource allocation engine (RAE) performs the following: counting available units for each of the one or more resources; parsing a multi-resource ticket (MRT) for a processor, wherein the parsing identifies one or more requested resource types, each resource type being paired with a requested resource units; comparing the multi-resource ticket to one or more resource queues for the requested resource types, wherein the comparing determines an availability status of at least one the requested resource types; and based on the availability status, calculating whether or not all of the requested resource types can be allocated for the processor, wherein the calculating is completed before allocating a next requested resource for a next processor.