US 9,436,625 B2 · Approach for allocating virtual bank managers within a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) controller to physical banks within a DRAM

Abstract

Banks within a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) are managed with virtual bank managers. A DRAM controller receives a new memory access request to DRAM including a plurality of banks. If the request accesses a location in DRAM where no virtual bank manager includes parameters for the corresponding DRAM page, then a virtual bank manager is allocated to the physical bank associated with the DRAM page. The bank manager is initialized to include parameters needed by the DRAM controller to access the DRAM page. The memory access request is then processed using the parameters associated with the virtual bank manager. One advantage of the disclosed technique is that the banks of a DRAM module are controlled with fewer bank managers than in previous DRAM controller designs. As a result, less surface area on the DRAM controller circuit is dedicated to bank managers.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method for allocating virtual bank managers within a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) controller, the method comprising:

receiving a first memory access request directed to a DRAM comprising a plurality of physical banks;
identifying a first physical bank within the plurality of physical banks that is associated with the first memory access request;
determining whether a first virtual bank manager included in a plurality of virtual bank managers that reside within the DRAM controller is available for allocation to the first physical bank;
if the first virtual bank manager is available, then:
allocating the first virtual bank manager to the first physical bank;
and
associating the first virtual bank manager with the first memory access request;
or
if the first virtual bank manager is not available, then:
waiting until the first virtual bank manager is available for allocation;
allocating the first virtual bank manager to the first physical bank;
and
associating the first virtual bank manager with the first memory access request.

10 more elements

A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) controller, comprising:

an arbitration unit;
a plurality of virtual bank managers coupled to the arbitration unit;
and
a virtual bank allocation unit that is coupled to the arbitration unit and configured to perform the steps of:
receiving a first memory access request directed to a DRAM comprising a plurality of physical banks;
identifying a first physical bank within the plurality of physical banks that is associated with the first memory access request;
determining whether a first virtual bank manager included in the plurality of virtual bank managers is available for allocation to the first physical bank;
if the first virtual bank manager is available, then:
allocating the first virtual bank manager to the first physical bank;
and
associating the first virtual bank manager with the first memory access request;
or
if the first virtual bank manager is not available, then:
waiting until the first virtual bank manager is available for allocation;
allocating the first virtual bank manager to the first physical bank;
and
associating the first virtual bank manager with the first memory access request.

14 more elements

A parallel processor, comprising:

a processing array;
and
at least one partition unit coupled to the processing array and including a memory controller, the memory controller having:
an arbitration unit,
a plurality of virtual bank managers coupled to the arbitration unit, and
a virtual bank allocation unit is coupled to the arbitration unit and configured to perform the steps of:
receiving a first memory access request directed to a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) comprising a plurality of physical banks;
identifying a first physical bank within the plurality of physical banks that is associated with the first memory access request;
determining that a first virtual bank manager included in the plurality of virtual bank managers is available for allocation to the first physical bank;
allocating the first virtual bank manager to the first physical bank;
and
associating the first virtual bank manager with the first memory access request.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Approach for allocating virtual bank managers within a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) controller to physical banks within a DRAM

Life of this patent

Approach for allocating virtual bank managers within a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) controller to physical banks within a DRAM

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22