SoC Runtime Profiling for Adaptive Clock Frequency Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hardware accelerators are limited in functionality and efficiency due to the requirement of prior knowledge of tasks, which is often not available due to confidentiality, privacy, and intellectual property concerns, and they struggle to adapt to evolving workloads without static performance adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A system on a chip (SOC) with runtime profiling and performance controls that dynamically adjusts clock frequency and settings based on real-time metrics and constraints, using counters and sensors to optimize performance without prior knowledge of tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hardware accelerators are configured with fixed functionality and specialized components, then processing efficiency for specific workloads is improved, but adaptability to evolving tasks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic performance management by continuously monitoring runtime metrics and adjusting clock frequencies of hardware components in real-time. The system transitions from static pre-configured performance settings to dynamic adaptation based on actual workload characteristics, allowing the hardware accelerator to optimize its performance for evolving tasks without requiring prior knowledge of task types.
2Productivity
If prior knowledge of tasks is used to pre-program hardware acceleration features, then performance efficiency is improved, but confidentiality and intellectual property protection deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback mechanisms by monitoring runtime metrics from hardware components and using this information to dynamically adjust performance parameters. Instead of requiring prior knowledge of tasks for pre-programming, the system learns workload characteristics during execution and adapts performance settings based on observed performance data, thereby maintaining confidentiality while achieving optimization.
3Device complexity
If static performance adjustments are applied to hardware accelerators, then configuration simplicity is improved, but efficiency for evolving workloads deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service performance management where the hardware accelerator automatically monitors its own runtime metrics and adjusts its performance parameters without external intervention. The system autonomously profiles workload characteristics and optimizes clock frequencies based on observed performance, eliminating the need for complex manual configuration while maintaining high efficiency for evolving workloads.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples of the present disclosure describe devices, systems, and methods for runtime profiling workload on a system on a chip (SOC). In examples. A SOC records runtime metrics while running a workload using counters to calculate the usage of logical partitions of the SOC. The SOC uses the runtime metrics to determine the logical partitions' performance characteristics and the processors' optimal clock frequency in each logical partition based on the performance characteristics. The SOC sets the clock speeds of a processor in a logical partition while the workload is still running on the SOC to its optimal clock frequency.