Transformation Circuitry for Interleaved Vector Rearrangement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing SIMD processors face challenges in efficiently processing mathematical operations that require operands or arithmetic outputs to be rearranged beyond their respective lanes, resulting in vectors that are not in natural order.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves an integrated circuit with an instruction pipeline that includes transformation circuitry capable of receiving an interleaved dual vector operand and outputting two natural order vectors, allowing for efficient rearrangement of data elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If SIMD processors use replicated ALU functional units to concurrently operate on vector data, then computational speed and processing throughput are improved, but the ability to handle operations requiring data rearrangement beyond lanes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vector data into lanes corresponding to replicated ALU functional units, with each lane handling specific data elements. This segmentation enables parallel processing while maintaining the ability to rearrange data between lanes through controlled data movement mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between parallel processing capability and data rearrangement flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary data movement mechanisms that facilitate controlled data transfer between lanes. These intermediaries enable the system to maintain high computational throughput through parallel ALU operations while also supporting data rearrangement operations by mediating between the parallel processing requirement and the data reorganization need.
2Productivity
If SIMD processors maintain natural order vector alignment, then memory bandwidth and processor scheduling are improved, but mathematical operations requiring operand rearrangement become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs data rearrangement operations as preliminary actions before the main computational operations. By pre-organizing data into the required layouts through controlled data movement between lanes, the system maintains natural order alignment for memory bandwidth optimization while handling the complexity of rearrangement operations in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic data movement capabilities that allow the processor to adaptively rearrange data between lanes based on the specific mathematical operation requirements. This dynamic flexibility enables the system to maintain simple natural order alignment for standard operations while complexity is managed through controlled dynamic reconfiguration when needed.
3Ease of operation
If vector operations are performed in natural order, then processor scheduling is simplified, but certain mathematical operations require complex permutation operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vector operation into lane-level operations that maintain natural order alignment for simplified scheduling, while introducing controlled data movement between segments (lanes) to handle permutation requirements. This segmentation allows the bulk of operations to remain simple while managing permutation complexity through targeted data movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses controlled copying of data between lanes to implement permutation operations. Instead of complex in-place rearrangements, the system copies data elements between lanes in a controlled manner, maintaining scheduling simplicity while achieving the required permutation effects through systematic copying operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit, comprising an instruction pipeline that includes instruction fetch phase circuitry, instruction decode phase circuitry, and instruction execution circuitry. The instruction execution circuitry includes transformation circuitry for receiving an interleaved dual vector operand as an input and for outputting a first natural order vector including a first set of data values from the interleaved dual vector operand and a second natural order vector including a second set of data values from the interleaved dual vector operand.