Tiered Memory Page Promotion Using Access Time and Frequency
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Solution Overview
Problem
In tiered memory systems, frequent promotion attempts of pages from lower to upper layer memory occur, leading to inefficient use of limited capacity in the upper layer memory and increased system time due to unnecessary promotions.
Innovation Solution
A method for a computing device with tiered memory that includes accessing a page, checking access time and total number of accesses, and determining promotion termination and timing based on these factors, distinguishing between cold, warm, and hot pages to optimize promotion attempts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If promotion attempts of pages from second tier memory to first tier memory occur frequently, then the memory requirements of applications are met, but the upper layer memory capacity is used inefficiently and system time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters used for promotion decision-making from simple access frequency to a composite evaluation including access frequency, access time, and page importance level. This allows the system to distinguish between different types of pages (cold, warm, hot) and make more informed promotion decisions, reducing unnecessary promotions while still meeting application memory requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system autonomously evaluates page characteristics and determines promotion timing without external intervention. The memory management unit automatically monitors access patterns, calculates page importance, and schedules promotions based on current memory capacity and predicted future needs, eliminating the need for manual configuration or external control
2Adaptability or versatility
If promotion attempts of pages from second tier memory to first tier memory occur frequently, then the memory requirements of applications are met, but the upper layer memory capacity is used inefficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of page characteristics (access frequency, access time, importance level) before making promotion decisions. By predicting future memory needs and pre-identifying candidate pages for promotion, the system avoids unnecessary promotion attempts and ensures that promoted pages are actually needed, thereby improving memory capacity utilization efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different promotion strategies to different types of pages based on their characteristics. Cold pages (low access frequency) are treated differently from warm pages (moderate access frequency) and hot pages (high access frequency). This localized approach ensures that memory capacity is allocated to pages that will be most beneficial, improving overall utilization efficiency
3Ease of operation
If promotion attempts are made without considering page access patterns, then the implementation is simple, but unnecessary promotions occur increasing system time
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors page access patterns (access frequency, access time) and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust promotion decisions. The memory management unit receives feedback from actual page accesses and refines its evaluation of page importance, creating a closed-loop system that improves accuracy over time while maintaining automated operation
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a computing device according to an aspect of the inventive concept may include accessing a page of a second tier memory, checking a time taken for the access, checking a total number of accesses of the page based on the time taken for the access, and determining whether to terminate promotion of the page to the first tier memory and a timing of the promotion, based on the total number of accesses of the page.