Software-based instruction scoreboard for arithmetic logic units
AssigneeAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.
InventorBrian EMBERLING
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A software-based instruction scoreboard indicates dependencies between closely-issued instructions issued to an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) pipeline. The software-based instruction scoreboard inserts one or more control words into the command stream between the dependent instructions, which is then executed by the ALU pipeline. The control words identify the instruction(s) upon which the dependent instructions depend (parent instructions) so that the GPU hardware can ensure that the ALU pipeline does not stall while the dependent instruction waits for results from the parent instruction.
Claims23
A method comprising:
- inserting a control word into a command stream comprising a first instruction for execution at an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) pipeline, the control word indicating a first dependency of the first instruction on a second instruction for execution at the ALU pipeline, the ALU pipeline comprising a plurality of stages, wherein inserting the control word is in response to the first instruction issuing less than a threshold number of instructions after issuance of the second instruction.
(canceled)
A method, comprising:
- receiving a control word indicating that a first instruction is dependent on a second instruction in response to the first instruction issuing less than a threshold number of instructions after issuance of the second instruction;
- and
- delaying, at an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) pipeline comprising a plurality of stages, execution of the first instruction based on the control word.
(canceled)
A device, comprising:
- an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) pipeline comprising a plurality of stages;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- insert a control word to a first instruction for execution at the ALU pipeline in response to the first instruction issuing less than a threshold number of instructions after issuance of a second instruction, the control word indicating a first dependency of the first instruction on the second instruction for execution at the ALU pipeline.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.