Shared Memory Ownership Transfer for Conflict-Free Multi-Processor Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data processing systems face challenges in efficiently managing shared memory access between multiple processors without conflicts, leading to inefficiencies and potential data access conflicts.

Innovation Solution

A data processing system with a shared memory architecture that includes a memory controller to manage ownership of the shared memory between a host processor and a processor, allowing exclusive access through a mail box mechanism to transfer and restore ownership, ensuring conflict-free access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple processors access shared memory simultaneously without ownership management, then processing throughput increases, but data access conflicts and system reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing throughputVSAvoiddata access conflict prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a memory controller as an intermediary between multiple processors and shared memory. The memory controller manages ownership transfer through mail box mechanisms, controlling which processor can access the shared memory at any given time. This mediator prevents direct conflicts while enabling efficient task-oriented access patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If ownership transfer mechanism is implemented in shared memory access, then data access conflict prevention improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata access conflict preventionVSAvoidmemory controller structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the mail box mechanism and ownership management functions within the existing memory controller structure. Rather than adding separate complex ownership management hardware, the solution merges these functions into the memory controller's existing architecture, using the mail box as an integrated component for both communication and ownership transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If exclusive ownership access is enforced, then data access conflict prevention improves, but processing speed deteriorates due to access restrictions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata access conflict preventionVSAvoidmemory access speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic ownership transfer based on task requirements. Rather than static ownership assignment, the memory controller dynamically transfers ownership to the processor that needs to access the shared memory for the current task. This dynamic approach ensures exclusive access when needed while minimizing the impact on processing speed through efficient transfer mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20260017225A1Memory system and data processing system including the memory system

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 SK HYNIX INC

AI summary

A data processing system including a shared memory; a host processor configured to possess an ownership of the shared memory, and process a first task by accessing the shared memory; a processor configured to possess the ownership transferred from the host processor, and process a second task by accessing the shared memory; and a memory controller coupled among the host processor, the processor, and the shared memory, and configured to allow the host processor or the processor to access the shared memory according to the ownership.