Super MADD Instructions for Vector Processing Efficiency
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current computing systems face inefficiencies in executing operations involving multiple data sets due to limitations in instruction formats that can only accommodate a fixed number of operands, leading to cascaded rounding errors and increased computational complexity for operations like multiple add instructions.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a 'super' multiple add instruction, VPLANE, which packs scalar terms into a single data structure, allowing for simultaneous execution of operations on vectors of different sizes, minimizing rounding errors through fused multiplication and addition, and supporting both single and double precision modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If current instruction formats are used with fixed number of operands, then instruction format simplicity is maintained, but computational efficiency deteriorates due to cascaded rounding errors and increased complexity for multiple add operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple scalar terms (a, b, c) into a single packed data structure that can be processed by a vector-friendly instruction. This allows the CPU to execute multiple addition operations simultaneously without increasing instruction format complexity, as the packed structure is handled as one operand rather than requiring multiple separate instructions or complex multi-operand formats.
Solution Approach 2:
The packed data structure serves multiple functions: it stores multiple scalar terms, enables simultaneous vector operations of different sizes, and supports both single and double precision modes. This multi-functionality allows a single instruction format to handle various computational scenarios that would otherwise require multiple specialized instructions, improving productivity without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Measurement precision
If multiple add instructions are executed separately, then instruction format simplicity is maintained, but rounding errors increase due to cascaded operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple addition operations into a single fused operation that processes all scalar terms simultaneously. By packing the scalar terms into a single data structure and executing them in one instruction, the system eliminates cascaded rounding errors that occur when adding terms sequentially in multiple separate instructions, while maintaining high computational speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The fused operation performs all addition operations continuously in a single execution cycle rather than sequentially through multiple instructions. This continuous processing ensures that intermediate results are computed without repeated rounding operations, preserving precision while maintaining productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If vector operations are performed on vectors of different sizes, then operational flexibility is improved, but execution complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the scalar terms into a packed data structure that can be selectively processed. The vector-friendly instruction can operate on different portions of the packed structure corresponding to different vector sizes, allowing flexible operations on vectors of varying lengths without requiring separate execution paths or complex control logic for each size variant.
Solution Approach 2:
The packed data structure and vector-friendly instruction form a universal system that can handle vectors of different sizes through a single execution model. The same instruction format and execution mechanism work for both single and double precision modes, as well as for different vector lengths, eliminating the need for multiple specialized execution paths and reducing overall complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A processing core is described having execution unit logic circuitry having a first register to store a first vector input operand, a second register to a store a second vector input operand and a third register to store a packed data structure containing scalar input operands a, b, c. The execution unit logic circuitry further include a multiplier to perform the operation (a*(first vector input operand))+(b*(second vector operand))+c.