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US 11,258,699 B2Granted
Sync network
AssigneeGraphcore Limited
InventorLars Paul Huse
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The provision of redundancy in a sync network, which protects the sync network against faults, such as broken cables in the sync network. The gateway comprises a sync propagation module configured to provide redundant sync requests that are sent along different pathways in the sync network. These sync requests are sent to towards different masters in the sync network. If a fault occurs at a point in one of the paths, the gateway will still receive a sync acknowledgment returned along the other path. Furthermore, the use of redundant sync networks, propagating the sync requests across different paths, allows fault detection in the wiring to be detected.
Claims16
A gateway comprising:
- one or more sync propagation circuits of the gateway, wherein the gateway is for interfacing at least one host with one or more subsystems for acting as work accelerators to the at least one host by processing data offloaded by the at least one host, the gateway enabling the transfer of data to and from the one or more subsystems at pre-compiled data exchange synchronisation points attained by the subsystems, which act as barriers between compute phases and exchange phases of the subsystems, wherein at least one of the sync propagation circuits is configured to:
- receive one or more sync requests from one or more first paths in a sync network, the one or more sync requests being for a synchronisation to be performed between subsystems of the sync network at an upcoming pre-compiled data exchange synchronisation point;
- in response to receipt of the one or more sync requests, propagate a plurality of sync requests in the sync network along different second paths;
- and
- following propagation of the plurality of sync requests, receive from at least one of the different second paths at least one sync acknowledgement;
- and
- in response to receipt of the at least one sync acknowledgment, propagate a sync acknowledgment along each of the one or more first paths from which the one or more sync requests were received.
4 more elements
A system comprising:
- a plurality of gateways, the plurality of gateways comprising a first gateway that includes:
- one or more sync propagation circuits, wherein at least one of the sync propagation circuits is configured to:
- receive one or more sync requests from one or more first paths in a sync network, the one or more sync requests being for a synchronisation to be performed between subsystems of the sync network at an upcoming pre-compiled data exchange synchronisation point;
- in response to receipt of the one or more sync requests, propagate a plurality of sync requests in the sync network along different second paths;
- and
- following propagation of the plurality of sync requests, receive from at least one of the different second paths at least one sync acknowledgement;
- and
- in response to receipt of the at least one sync acknowledgment, propagate a sync acknowledgment along each of the one or more first paths from which the one or more sync requests were received.
5 more elements
A method implemented in a gateway the method comprising:
- interfacing at least one host with one or more subsystems for acting as work accelerators to the at least one host by processing data offloaded by the at least one host, the gateway enabling the transfer of data to and from the one or more subsystems at pre-compiled data exchange synchronisation points attained by the subsystems, which act as barriers between compute phases and exchange phases of the subsystems;
- receiving one or more sync requests from one or more first paths in a sync network, the one or more sync requests being for a synchronisation to be performed between subsystems of the sync network at an upcoming pre-compiled data exchange synchronisation point;
- in response to receipt of the one or more sync requests, propagating a plurality of sync requests in the sync network along different second paths;
- following propagation of the plurality of sync requests, receiving from at least one of the different second paths at least one sync acknowledgement;
- and
- in response to receipt of the at least one sync acknowledgment, propagating a sync acknowledgment along each of the one or more first paths from which the one or more sync requests were received.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.