Signature-Based Store Checking Buffer

• US 20140181594A1
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: SRIDHARAN, Vilas, Gurumurthi, Sudhanva
• Granted Patent: US 9,047,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/45
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/08 Error detection or correction by redundancy in data representation, e.g. by using checking codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1004 to protect a block of data words, e.g. CRC or checksum G06F11/1076 takes precedence; security arrangements for protecting computers or computer systems against unauthorized activity G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1641 where the comparison is not performed by the redundant processing components
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/167 Error detection by comparing the memory output
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/683 using metadata automatically derived from the content

Abstract

A system and method for optimizing redundant output verification, are provided. A hardware-based store fingerprint buffer receives multiple instances of output from multiple instances of computation. The store fingerprint buffer generates a signature from the content included in the multiple instances of output. When a barrier is reached, the store fingerprint buffer uses the signature to verify the content is error-free.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a hardware-based store fingerprint buffer installed in an electronic circuit that processes data in parallel and configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving a first instance of output associated with a first instance of computation;

receiving a second instance of output associated with a second instance of computation, wherein the first and second instances of the computation are part of a workgroup adapted for parallel execution;

generating a signature from content included in the first instance of output and the second instance of output; and

verifying, using the signature, that the content is error-free.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a graphics processing unit (GPU) configured to include the hardware-based store fingerprint buffer.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a compute unit configured to include the hardware-based store fingerprint buffer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the content in the first instance of output includes data and storage address for the data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the hardware-based store fingerprint buffer is further configured to generate the signature by generating a signature associated with data included in the first instance of output, wherein the signature is a checksum of the data in the first instance of output and data in a previous instance of output associated with the instance of computation. is a checksum of the data in the first instance of output and data in a previous instance of output associated with the instance of computation.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the signature the hardware-based store fingerprint buffer is further configured to generate the signature by generating by:

generating a leading signature associated with a portion of content of the first instance of output;

generating a trailing signature associated with a portion of content of the second instance of output, wherein the leading signature and the trailing signature are stored in different memory locations associated with the hardware-based store fingerprint buffer; and

wherein the hardware-based store fingerprint buffer is further configured to compare the leading signature and the trailing signature to verify the content is error-free.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the portion of the content of the first instance of output and the second instance of output is data.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the portion of the content of the first instance of output and the second instance of output are storage addresses for data.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the hardware-based store fingerprint buffer is further configured to generate the signature by:

generating a leading signature associated with a portion of content of the first instance of output;

generating a trailing signature associated with a portion of content of the second instance of output, wherein the leading signature and the trailing signature are stored in a memory location associated with the store fingerprint buffer; and

wherein the store fingerprint buffer is further configured to compare content in the memory location to zero to verify the content is error-free.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the hardware-based store fingerprint buffer is further configured to:

receive a barrier instruction, wherein the barrier instruction is an indication to the fingerprint buffer to verify the signature;

confirm that instances of output associated with multiple instances of computation were processed by the store fingerprint buffer prior to the store fingerprint buffer verifying the signature.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the instances of computation are redundant.

12. A method for optimizing redundant output verification, comprising:

receiving, in a hardware-based store fingerprint buffer installed in an electronic circuit that processes data in parallel, a first instance of output associated with a first computation and a second instance of output associated with a second computation, wherein the first and second instances of the computation are part of a workgroup adapted for parallel execution;

generating a signature from content included in the first instance of output and the second instance of output; and

verifying, using the signature, that the content is error-free.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a graphics processing unit (GPU) includes the hardware-based store fingerprint buffer.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein a compute unit includes the hardware-based store fingerprint buffer.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the content in the first instance of output includes data and storage address for the data.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the generating further comprises:

generating a signature associated with data included in the first instance of output, wherein the signature is a checksum of the data in the first instance of output and data in a previous instances of output associated with the instance of computation.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein generating the signature further comprises:

generating a leading signature associated with a portion of content of the first instance of output;

generating a trailing signature associated with a portion of content of the second instance of output, wherein the leading signature and the trailing signature are stored in different memory locations associated with the hardware-based store fingerprint buffer; and

wherein the verifying further comprises comparing the leading signature and the trailing signature to verify the content is error free.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the portion of the content of the first instance of output and the second instance of output is data.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the portion of the content of the first instance of output and the second instance of output are storage addresses for data.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein to generate the signature the store fingerprint buffer is further configured to:

generating a leading signature associated with a portion of content of the first instance of output;

generating a trailing signature associated with a portion of content of the second instance of output, wherein the leading signature and the trailing signature are stored in a memory locations associated with the store fingerprint buffer; and

wherein the store fingerprint buffer is further configured to compare content in the memory location to zero to verify the content is error-free.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a barrier instruction, wherein the barrier instruction is an indication to the fingerprint buffer to verify the signature;

confirming that instances of output associated with multiple instances of computation were processed by the store fingerprint buffer prior to the store fingerprint buffer verifying the signature.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the instances of computation are redundant.