US 6,640,299 B1 · Method and apparatus for arbitrating access to a computational engine for use in a video graphics controller

Abstract

A method and apparatus for arbitrating access to a computation engine includes processing that begins by determining, for a given clock cycle of the computation engine, whether at least one operation code is pending. When at least one operation code is pending, the processing continues by providing the operation code to the computation engine. When multiple operation codes are pending for the given clock cycle, the processing determines a priority operation code from the multiple pending operation codes based on an application specific prioritization scheme. The application specific prioritization scheme is dependent on the application and may include a two level prioritization scheme. At the first level the prioritization scheme prioritizes certain threads over other threads such that the throughput through the computation module is maximized. At the second level, the prioritization scheme prioritizes operation codes within a set of threads of equal priority based on the length of time the data for the operation codes has been in the processing pipeline. The processing then continues by shifting the remaining operation codes of the multiple operation codes to a subsequent clock cycle of the computation engine.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method for arbitrating access to a computation engine, the method comprises the steps of:

a) for a given clock cycle of the computation engine, determining whether at least one operation code is pending, wherein the at least one operation code is included in a set of operation codes for one of a plurality of threads, and wherein the plurality of threads constitutes an application;
b) when one operation code is pending, providing the one operation code to the computation engine;
c) when multiple operation codes are pending, determining a priority operation instruction from the multiple operation codes based on an application specific prioritization scheme;
and
d) shifting remaining operation codes of the multiple operation codes to a subsequent clock cycle of the computation engine.

2 more elements

A method for arbitrating access to a computation engine, the method comprises the steps of:

a) providing, by each of a plurality of thread controllers, operation codes to an arbitration module, wherein each of the plurality of thread controllers manages a corresponding one of a plurality of threads, wherein the plurality of threads constitutes an application, and wherein each thread of the plurality of threads includes a set of operation codes;
b) for each of a plurality of clock cycles for a given execution of the application, determining, by the arbitration module, whether at least one operation code is pending;
and
c) when the at least one operation code is pending for a given clock cycle of the plurality of clock cycles, determining, for the given clock cycle, a priority operation code of the at least one operation code based on the application specific prioritization scheme.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for arbitrating access to a computational engine for use in a video graphics controller

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for arbitrating access to a computational engine for use in a video graphics controller

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17