Vector Sort Indexing With Tile Operations for Large Matrix Throughput

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing processors face challenges in efficiently handling large matrices due to instruction intensity and difficulty in managing rows of matrices within packed data registers, which is not feasible with larger matrices.

Innovation Solution

Implementing mechanisms to support matrix operations in computer hardware using 2-dimensional data structures called tiles, which can be configured for various dimensions and datatypes, and utilizing instructions for performing ternary tile operations (TILETERNOP) to facilitate efficient matrix manipulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional packed data registers are used to store matrix rows, then the processor can handle smaller matrices efficiently, but it becomes infeasible to manage larger matrices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematrix operation efficiencyVSAvoidmatrix management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the matrix into smaller sub-matrices called tiles that can be independently processed. Each tile fits within standard packed data registers, allowing the system to handle large matrices by segmenting them into manageable units. This segmentation enables efficient processing of large matrices without overwhelming the processor's register architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a tile-based dimension to matrix storage and processing, transitioning from traditional row-by-row processing to a two-dimensional tile grid. This allows the processor to manage large matrices by organizing them into a grid of smaller tiles, each可 be processed independently using standard register operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If traditional row-by-row processing is used, then the instruction set remains simple, but the processing throughput for large matrices is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing throughputVSAvoidinstruction set complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple operations into single tile-based instructions, allowing the processor to perform multiple operations on entire tiles simultaneously. This merging of operations at the tile level significantly increases throughput for large matrices while keeping individual instructions relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal tile processing model that can handle various matrix operations (addition, multiplication, transposition, etc.) using the same basic tile architecture. This multi-functionality allows the same tile-based approach to process different types of operations without requiring separate complex instruction sets for each operation type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If the processor handles all operations in software, then hardware complexity is reduced, but performance is insufficient for modern machine learning workloads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputational performanceVSAvoidhardware architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces tile registers as an intermediary between memory and the execution units. These specialized registers are optimized for holding tile data and facilitate efficient data transfer and processing. The tile register architecture serves as a mediator that bridges the gap between software programming models and hardware execution, enabling high performance without requiring complete hardware redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4191405B1Systems, apparatuses, and methods for generating an index by sort order and reordering elements based on sort order
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 INTEL CORP
  • EP4191405B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4191405B1 patent drawingFigure 2(A)~2(C)
  • EP4191405B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed embodiments relate to apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing sort indexing and/or permutation using an index. An exemplary apparatus or processor comprises: decode circuitry to decode an instruction, the instruction to include a first field to identify a location of a source vector, a second field to identify a location of a destination vector, and an opcode to indicate to execution circuitry to execute the decoded instruction to index values of the source vector and store a result of the indexing in the destination vector by generating, per each element of the source vector, an index value using one or more comparisons; and execution circuitry to execute the decoded instruction as indicated by the opcode.