Semaphore Wait Dependency API for Deadlock-Free Task Graphs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing parallel computing systems face challenges in efficiently managing dependencies between tasks in software graphs, leading to potential deadlocks and suboptimal execution orders, which can hinder performance and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an application programming interface (API) that allows for the explicit definition and management of dependencies between nodes in a software graph, including full execution, anti-deadlock, launch order, and fast launch dependencies, using a tagged union data structure to handle various node types and their parameters, ensuring proper execution sequencing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If explicit dependency management is implemented through API, then task execution reliability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetask execution reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

An intermediary dependency management system is introduced between tasks and execution resources. This system uses a standardized API interface that allows tasks to declare their dependencies without direct complex interactions, thereby improving reliability while abstracting away the underlying complexity through a mediator layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter representation of dependencies by using standardized dependency type enumerations (e.g., FULL_EXECUTION_DEPENDENCY, ANTI_DEADLOCK_DEPENDENCY, LAUNCH_ORDER_DEPENDENCY, FAST_LAUNCH_DEPENDENCY) instead of custom complex structures. This parameter standardization improves reliability through consistent handling while reducing apparent complexity through type safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple dependency types are supported, then task execution precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetask execution precisionVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The dependency management is segmented into distinct, well-defined dependency types. Each dependency type represents a specific execution precision requirement, allowing the system to handle complex precision requirements through modular, segmented categories rather than monolithic complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides more dependency type options than any single application may immediately need. This excessive action approach allows users to start with simple dependency types and gradually adopt more precise types as needed, maintaining ease of operation while enabling high precision when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12579011B1Application programming interface to indicate semaphore wait dependencies

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 NVIDIA CORP

AI summary

Apparatuses, systems, and techniques to perform an application programming interface (API) to add one or more graph nodes to a software graph, wherein the API is to cause a semaphore wait node to be added to a software graph based, at least in part, on a dependency type indicated by the API. In at least one embodiment, one or more nodes are added to a graph in accordance to one or more dependency types.