Thread Priority Control for Power-Efficient Flush Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thread priority control mechanisms in simultaneous multi-threading data processing systems lead to excessive and unnecessary balance flushes and dispatch flushes, resulting in wasted power and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism for dynamically controlling instruction fetch and dispatch thread priority settings in a thread switch control register to reduce the occurrence of balance and dispatch flushes by updating thread priority settings based on a target power efficiency mode, thereby optimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If thread priority control mechanisms are used to increase processor performance, then processor resource utilization is improved, but excessive balance flushes and dispatch flushes occur causing wasted power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making thread priority settings adjustable and adaptive rather than fixed. The system dynamically modifies priority levels based on real-time processor state, workload conditions, and power consumption targets, allowing the balance between performance and power efficiency to be optimized under varying operational scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of thread priority settings to resolve the contradiction. By modifying priority levels, the system can reduce the frequency of balance flushes and dispatch flushes, thereby decreasing power consumption while maintaining acceptable processor performance and resource utilization.
2Power
If higher priority threads are granted more decode units and dispatch cycles, then processor performance increases, but fairness across executing threads deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts thread priorities based on actual execution conditions, workload characteristics, and power consumption targets. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize performance when needed while ensuring fairness through balanced priority assignments under different operational scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that monitor processor state, thread execution progress, and power consumption. This feedback information is used to adjust thread priorities in real-time, ensuring that performance optimization does not permanently compromise thread fairness, as the system responds to actual execution conditions.
3Productivity
If thread priority settings are optimized for performance, then throughput increases, but power consumption increases due to unnecessary flushes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thread priority parameter to balance throughput and power consumption. By adjusting priority levels based on power consumption targets and processor state, the system achieves acceptable throughput while significantly reducing power waste from unnecessary balance flushes and dispatch flushes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically optimizes thread priorities based on real-time conditions, allowing it to maximize throughput when power consumption is not critical and to reduce power consumption when power efficiency is the primary objective, thereby adapting to different operational requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanism for controlling instruction fetch and dispatch thread priority settings in a thread switch control register for reducing the occurrence of balance flushes and dispatch flushes for increased power performance of a simultaneous multi-threading data processing system. To achieve a target power efficiency mode of a processor, the illustrative embodiments receive an instruction or command from a higher-level system control to set a current power consumption of the processor. The illustrative embodiments determine a target power efficiency mode for the processor. Once the target power mode is determined, the illustrative embodiments update thread priority settings in a thread switch control register for an executing thread to control balance flush speculation and dispatch flush speculation to achieve the target power efficiency mode.