Sparse Memory Mapping for GPU Tile-Based Rendering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current graphics processing unit (GPU) architectures face inefficiencies in memory management, particularly in tile-based deferred rendering (TBDR) operations, where processing tasks are hindered by unmapped memory regions, leading to unnecessary resource utilization and potential early termination of jobs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of memory access circuitry that provides a sparse mapping between virtual and physical memory addresses, discarding write operations to unmapped regions and inhibiting processing operations within entirely unmapped memory spaces, along with detector and control circuitry to identify and manage these regions effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a sparse memory mapping is implemented to optimize resource utilization, then resource utilization is improved, but processing operations accessing unmapped memory regions become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of whether a processing operation's memory region is entirely within unmapped memory before allowing execution. This advance checking prevents resource waste by blocking operations that would access unmapped memory, while still allowing operations that need mapped memory regions to execute normally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of unmapped memory regions (which could cause crashes or undefined behavior) into a benefit by using the detection mechanism to identify and block problematic operations early. This transforms what would be a source of errors into a feature that enables more reliable resource management.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If write operations to unmapped memory regions are discarded to save resources, then energy consumption is reduced, but data loss may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback through the detector circuitry that monitors memory access patterns and identifies when operations are attempting to access entirely unmapped memory regions. This feedback mechanism enables the control circuitry to make informed decisions about which operations to block, balancing energy savings with data preservation needs.
Data Source
AI summary
Circuitry comprises memory access circuitry to control memory access by mapping virtual memory addresses in a virtual memory address space to physical memory addresses in a physical memory address space, the memory access circuitry being configured to provide a sparse mapping in which a mapped subset of the virtual memory address space is mapped to physical memory while an unmapped subset of the virtual memory address space is unmapped, the memory access circuitry being configured to discard write operations to virtual memory addresses in the unmapped subset of the virtual memory address space and processing circuitry to execute program code defining a processing operation to generate processed data and to store the processed data in a memory region of the virtual memory address space applicable to that processing operation; detector circuitry to detect whether the memory region is entirely within the unmapped subset of the virtual memory address space.