Data processing systems
AssigneeArm Limited
InventorsJussi Tuomas PENNALA, Henrik Nils-Sture OLSSON, Richard BRAMLEY, Nicholas John Nelson MURPHY
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Abstract
A data processing system that comprises plural processing units is disclosed. The system includes functional units, the functional units having different processing capacities. A set of one or more processing units can operate in combination with one of the functional units according to a processing capacity required for the set of one or more processing units.
Claims21
A data processing system, comprising:
- a plurality of processing units, wherein one or more of the processing units are operable in combination with at least one other processing unit of the plurality of processing units such that respective sets of one or more processing units of the plurality of processing units can generate respective data processing outputs;
- and,
- a plurality of functional units configured to perform the same type of processing operation, each functional unit operable in combination with a set of one or more of the processing units when generating a data processing output;
- wherein the processing capacity of at least one functional unit of the plurality of functional units for performing the processing operation is greater than the processing capacity of at least one other functional unit of the plurality of functional units for performing the processing operation.
A method of operating a data processing system that comprises:
- a plurality of processing units, wherein one or more of the processing units are operable in combination with at least one other processing unit of the plurality of processing units such that respective sets of one or more processing units of the plurality of processing units can generate respective data processing outputs;
- and
- a plurality of functional units configured to perform the same type of processing operation, each functional unit operable in combination with a set of one or more of the processing units when generating a data processing output;
- wherein the processing capacity of at least one functional unit of the plurality of functional units for performing the processing operation is greater than the processing capacity of at least one other functional unit of the plurality of functional units for performing the processing operation;
- the method comprising:
- configuring a set of one or more processing units of the plurality of processing units to generate a data processing output;
- configuring a functional unit of the plurality of functional units that has a processing capacity for performing the processing operation that is sufficient to match a processing capacity of the set of one or more processing units for generating a data processing output to operate in combination with the set of one or more processing units when generating the data processing output;
- and,
- the functional unit performing the processing operation when operating in combination with the set of one or more processing units when generating the data processing output.
The method of claim 14, wherein the processing capacity of the at least one functional unit for performing the processing operation is sufficient to match a processing capacity of a maximum possible number of the processing units operating in combination to generate a data processing output, and the processing capacity of the at least one other functional unit for performing the processing operation is not sufficient to match the processing capacity of the maximum possible number of the processing units operating in combination to generate a data processing output;
- the method comprising:
- when a set of the maximum possible number of the processing units is generating a data processing output:
- configuring one of the at least one functional unit to operate in combination with the set of the maximum possible number of the processing units when generating the data processing output;
- and the functional unit performing the processing operation when operating in combination with the set of the maximum possible number of the processing units when generating the data processing output.
A method of providing a data processing system that comprises a plurality of processing units and a plurality of functional units configured to perform the same type of processing operation, the method comprising:
- providing the plurality of processing units, wherein one or more of the processing units are operable in combination with at least one other processing unit of the plurality of processing units;
- providing a control circuit configured to partition the plurality of processing units into one or more sets of one or more processing units in accordance with a mode of operation of a selected set of plural different modes of operation, such that each set of one or more processing units is operable to generate a data processing output;
- and,
- providing the plurality of functional units, each functional unit operable in combination with a set of one or more of the processing units when generating a data processing output, and wherein the processing capacity of at least one functional unit of the plurality of functional units for performing the processing operation is greater than the processing capacity of at least one other functional unit of the plurality of functional units for performing the processing operation;
- wherein providing the plurality of functional units comprises selecting the processing capacities of the functional units for performing the processing operation based on the selected set of plural different modes of operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.