Swizzle Pattern Generator for Vector Processing Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
The performance of processing devices is degraded when swizzle instructions are interposed between load, store, and vector operation instructions, leading to significant overhead and reduced efficiency in data processing.
Innovation Solution
A processing device with a vector register and a swizzle pattern generator that creates swizzle patterns by rearranging data elements, eliminating the need for explicit swizzle instructions and reducing processing overhead by generating swizzle patterns simultaneously with data input or output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If swizzle instructions are interposed between load, store, and vector operation instructions to rearrange data elements, then data ordering is achieved, but processor performance is significantly degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the swizzle function with the vector processing unit by incorporating a swizzle pattern generator that operates in parallel with the vector operation execution. This allows data rearrangement and vector operations to be performed simultaneously without sequential instruction overhead, resolving the contradiction between achieving data ordering and maintaining processor performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The swizzle pattern generator creates the required data rearrangement pattern in advance during the same clock cycle that the vector operation is being executed. This preliminary preparation of the swizzle pattern eliminates the need for separate swizzle instructions to be executed before vector operations, thereby maintaining high processor performance while achieving proper data ordering.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple swizzle instructions are used between all load, store, and vector operation instructions, then data elements are properly arranged for each operation, but processing overhead increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a continuous swizzle pattern generation mechanism that operates throughout the vector processing pipeline. The swizzle pattern generator continuously generates rearrangement patterns for incoming data streams, ensuring that data elements are always properly arranged without interrupting the flow of vector operations. This eliminates the need for discrete swizzle instructions between each load, store, and vector operation, thereby reducing processing overhead while maintaining data arrangement accuracy.
3Reliability
If swizzle instructions are executed sequentially before vector operations, then input data is properly ordered, but execution time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The swizzle pattern generator performs the data rearrangement preparation in advance during the same time cycle that the vector operation is being set up. By generating the swizzle pattern preliminarily and in parallel with operation setup, the system ensures input data is properly ordered without adding sequential execution time, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability of data ordering and execution time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from sequential swizzle instruction execution to parallel swizzle pattern generation by adding a temporal dimension to the data processing flow. The swizzle pattern generator operates in a parallel time dimension alongside the vector processing unit, allowing data ordering and operation execution to occur simultaneously rather than sequentially, thereby reducing overall execution time while maintaining reliable data ordering.
Data Source
AI summary
A swizzle pattern generator is provided to reduce an overhead due to execution of a swizzle instruction in vector processing. The swizzle pattern generator is configured to provide swizzle patterns with respect to data sets of at least one vector register or vector processing unit. The swizzle pattern generator may be reconfigurable to generate various swizzle patterns for different vector operations.