Shaped Memory Access for Register Bank Conflict Avoidance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In parallel processing systems, register bank conflicts prevent processors from retrieving multiple operands in a single register access operation, leading to inefficiencies in memory access operations.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method where an instruction dispatch unit recognizes accessible register files via a specific memory access pattern and forms a shaped memory access operation to retrieve multiple operands without resource conflicts, optimizing operand collection from a register file.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate register access operations are performed for each operand to avoid register bank conflicts, then register bank conflicts are avoided, but the number of register access operations increases and memory access efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The register file is divided into multiple banks, and the patent segments the operand access operations to access different banks simultaneously. By identifying that operands are stored in different banks (e.g., even and odd banks), the system can perform multiple register access operations in parallel, avoiding serial execution while still avoiding conflicts within each bank.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a bank dimension to the register access space. Instead of treating all registers as a single resource, it adds a bank identifier dimension, allowing the system to access multiple registers across different banks simultaneously. This transforms a one-dimensional conflict problem into a multi-dimensional parallel access solution.
2Reliability
If all operands are accessed serially one at a time, then register bank conflicts are completely avoided, but the total number of register access operations increases, but potential efficiencies are not realized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of operand addresses to determine which operands are located in different banks before executing access operations. By pre-identifying non-conflicting operands and their bank assignments, the system can parallelize subsequent access operations, reducing total access time while maintaining conflict avoidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically determines the number of parallel access operations needed based on the specific operand distribution. Rather than always using maximum parallelism or strict serial execution, it adapts the degree of parallelization to the actual register bank configuration, optimizing both conflict avoidance and access time.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique that provides an efficient way to retrieve operands from a register file. Specifically, the instruction dispatch unit receives one or more instructions, each of which includes one or more operands. Collectively, the operands are organized into one or more operand groups from which a shaped access may be formed. The operands are retrieved from the register file and stored in a collector. Once all operands are read and collected in the collector, the instruction dispatch unit transmits the instructions and corresponding operands to functional units within the streaming multiprocessor for execution. One advantage of the present invention is that multiple operands are retrieved from the register file in a single register access operation without resource conflict. Performance in retrieving operands from the register file is improved by forming shaped accesses that efficiently retrieve operands exhibiting recognized memory access patterns.