US 8,797,332 B2 · Device discovery and topology reporting in a combined CPU/GPU architecture system

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided, as an aspect of a combined CPU/APD architecture system, for discovering and reporting properties of devices and system topology that are relevant to efficiently scheduling and distributing computational tasks to the various computational resources of a combined CPU/APD architecture system. The combined CPU/APD architecture unifies CPUs and APDs in a flexible computing environment. In some embodiments, the combined CPU/APD architecture capabilities are implemented in a single integrated circuit, elements of which can include one or more CPU cores and one or more APD cores. The combined CPU/APD architecture creates a foundation upon which existing and new programming frameworks, languages, and tools can be constructed.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A system, comprising:

a computer memory having a physical storage size and logical arrangement;
a component resource affinity table disposed in the computer memory;
a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the computer memory;
the CPU having a number of discoverable properties, the CPU configured, responsive to executing one or more instructions, to provide at least a portion of the discoverable properties of the CPU, an accelerated processing device, and the memory;
the accelerated processing device (APD) coupled to the computer memory, the APD having a number of discoverable properties, and coupled to an APD local memory;
and
a memory management unit coupled to the computer memory and shared by the CPU and the accelerated processing device;
wherein the system is configured to execute an operating system;
wherein the discoverable properties are relevant to scheduling and distribution of computational tasks to the CPU and the APD, and expose coherent and non-coherent access ranges of either the computer memory or the APD local memory that the operating system manages differently.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device discovery and topology reporting in a combined CPU/GPU architecture system

Life of this patent

Device discovery and topology reporting in a combined CPU/GPU architecture system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23