Synchronization arbiter for proactive synchronization within a multiprocessor computer system
First Claim
1. A synchronization arbiter for use in a computer system including one or more processors each configured to request exclusive access to a given memory resource, wherein the request includes one or more addresses associated with the given memory resource, the synchronization arbiter comprising:
- an address storage configured to store a plurality of sets of addresses, wherein each address of the plurality of sets of addresses corresponds to a respective memory resource to which a requester has acquired exclusive access;
wherein the address storage is further configured to store a plurality of count values each associated with a respective set of addresses of the plurality of sets of addresses, wherein each count value is indicative of a number of requestors contending for any address in each respective set of addresses;
a compare unit coupled to the address storage and configured to compare each of the one or more addresses in the request to each address of the plurality of sets of addresses stored in the address storage; and
control logic coupled to the compare unit and configured to return to the requester, the count value associated with a matching address in response to any address of the one or more addresses matching any address in the plurality of sets of addresses.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A synchronization arbiter may be used in a computer system including one or more processors configured to request exclusive access to a given memory resource. The request may include one or more addresses associated with the memory resource. The synchronization arbiter includes an address storage that may store sets of addresses. Each address may correspond to a respective memory resource to which a requestor has acquired exclusive access. The address storage may further store count values, each associated with a respective set of addresses, and each may be indicative of a number of requesters contending for any address in the respective set of addresses. If any of the one or more addresses matches any address in the sets of addresses, control logic may return the count value associated with the matching address to the requestor.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A synchronization arbiter for use in a computer system including one or more processors each configured to request exclusive access to a given memory resource, wherein the request includes one or more addresses associated with the given memory resource, the synchronization arbiter comprising:
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an address storage configured to store a plurality of sets of addresses, wherein each address of the plurality of sets of addresses corresponds to a respective memory resource to which a requester has acquired exclusive access;
wherein the address storage is further configured to store a plurality of count values each associated with a respective set of addresses of the plurality of sets of addresses, wherein each count value is indicative of a number of requestors contending for any address in each respective set of addresses;
a compare unit coupled to the address storage and configured to compare each of the one or more addresses in the request to each address of the plurality of sets of addresses stored in the address storage; and
control logic coupled to the compare unit and configured to return to the requester, the count value associated with a matching address in response to any address of the one or more addresses matching any address in the plurality of sets of addresses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer system comprising:
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one or more processors coupled together and to one or more memories, wherein each of the processors is configured to request exclusive access to a given memory, wherein the request includes one or more addresses associated with the given memory; and
a synchronization arbiter coupled to each of the one or more processors, wherein the synchronization arbiter includes;
an address storage configured to store a plurality of sets of addresses, wherein each address of the plurality of sets of addresses corresponds to a respective memory to which a requester has acquired exclusive access;
wherein the address storage is further configured to store a plurality of count values each associated with a respective set of addresses of the plurality of sets of addresses, wherein each count value is indicative of a number of requesting processors contending for any address in each respective set of addresses;
a compare unit coupled to the address storage and configured to compare each of the one or more addresses in the request to each address of the plurality of sets of addresses stored in the address storage; and
control logic coupled to the compare unit and configured to return to the requesting processor, the count value associated with a matching address in response to any address of the one or more addresses matching any address in the plurality of sets of addresses. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A synchronization arbiter for use in a computer system including one or more processors each configured to request exclusive access to a given memory resource, wherein the request includes one or more addresses associated with the given memory resource, the synchronization arbiter comprising:
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an address storage configured to store a plurality of sets of addresses, wherein each address of the plurality of sets of addresses corresponds to a respective memory resource to which a requestor has acquired exclusive access;
wherein the address storage is further configured to store a plurality of count values, each count value associated with a respective address of each set of the plurality of sets of addresses, wherein each count value is indicative of a number of requestors contending for the associated respective address;
a compare unit coupled to the address storage and configured to compare each of the one or more addresses in the request to each address of the plurality of sets of addresses stored in the address storage; and
control logic coupled to the compare unit and configured to return to the requester, the count value associated with a matching address in response to any address of the one or more addresses matching any address in the plurality of sets of addresses. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification