Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing a time stamp counter (TSC) associated with a processor core in a computer system includes initializing the TSC associated with the processor core by synchronizing the TSC associated with the processor core with at least one other TSC in a hierarchy of TSCs. One or more processor cores are powered down. Upon powering up of the one or more processor cores, the TSC associated with the processor core is synchronized with the at least one other TSC in the hierarchy of TSCs.

Abstract: A processing device is provided which comprises memory and a processor. The processor is configured to receive an array of floating point numbers each having a plurality of bits used to represent a probability value. For each floating point number, the processor is configured to replace values in a portion of the bits used to represent the probability value with index values to represent an index corresponding to a location of a corresponding floating point number in the memory. The processor is also configured to process the floating point numbers using SIMD instructions to execute one of an argmax operation and an argmin operation.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for secure communications on a computing device. A host operating system (OS) runs on a host processor in communication with a host memory. A secure OS runs on a coprocessor in communication with a secure memory. The coprocessor receives information from an external device over a secure peer-to-peer (P2P) connection. The secure P2P connection is managed by the secure OS and is not accessible by the host OS.

Abstract: Techniques for performing shader operations are provided. The techniques include, performing pixel shading at a shading rate defined by pixel shader variable rate shading (“VRS”) data, updating the pixel VRS data that indicates one or more shading rates for one or more tiles based on whether the tiles of the one or more tiles include triangle edges or do not include triangle edges, to generate updated VRS data, and writing a VRS rate feedback buffer based on the updated VRS data.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for direct memory access. A system direct memory access (SDMA) device disposed on a processor die sends a message which includes physical addresses of a source buffer and a destination buffer, and a size of a data transfer, to a data fabric device. The data fabric device sends an instruction which includes the physical addresses of the source and destination buffer, and the size of the data transfer, to first agent devices. Each of the first agent devices reads a portion of the source buffer from a memory device at the physical address of the source buffer. Each of the first agent devices sends the portion of the source buffer to one of second agent devices. Each of the second agent devices writes the portion of the source buffer to the destination buffer.

Abstract: A coherency management device receives requests to read data from or write data to an address in a main memory. On a write, if the data includes zero data, an entry corresponding to the memory address is created in a cache directory if it does not already exist, is set to an invalid state, and indicates that the data includes zero data. The zero data is not written to main memory or a cache. On a read, the cache directory is checked for an entry corresponding to the memory address. If the entry exists in the cache directory, is invalid, and includes an indication that data corresponding to the memory address includes zero data, the coherency management device returns zero data in response to the request without fetching the data from main memory or a cache.

Abstract: Techniques for processing pixel data are provided. The techniques include, in a first mode in which blending is enabled, reading in render target color data from a memory system; blending the render target color data with one or more fragments received from a pixel shader stage to generate blended color data; outputting the blended color data to the memory system utilizing a first amount of bandwidth; in a second mode in which blending is disabled and variable rate shading is enabled, amplifying shaded coarse fragments received from the pixel shader stage to generate fine fragments; and outputting the fine fragments to the memory system utilizing a second amount of bandwidth that is higher than the first amount of bandwidth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing overclocking in a data center includes determining a frequency limit of a first processor of a first server in the data center. The voltage of the first processor is lowered to a stability point, and the frequency is lowered. The first server is tested for stability. Based upon the results of the test, the voltage and frequency modifications are deployed to a second processor of a second server in the data center.

Abstract: A processing unit, method, and medium for decompressing or generating textures within a graphics processing unit (GPU). The textures are compressed with a variable-rate compression scheme such as JPEG. The compressed textures are retrieved from system memory and transferred to local cache memory on the GPU without first being decompressed. A table is utilized by the cache to locate individual blocks within the compressed texture. A decompressing shader processor receives compressed blocks and then performs on-the-fly decompression of the blocks. The decompressed blocks are then processed as usual by a texture consuming shader processor of the GPU.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a processor that executes a guest operating system; a memory having a guest portion that is reserved for storing data and information to be accessed by the guest operating system; and an input-output memory management unit (IOMMU). The IOMMU performs operations for signaling an interrupt to the guest operating system. For these operations, the IOMMU acquires, from an entry in an interrupt remapping table associated with the guest operating system, a location in a virtual advanced programmable interrupt controller (APIC) backing page for the guest operating system in the guest portion of the memory. The IOMMU then writes information about the interrupt to the location in the virtual APIC backing page. The IOMMU next communicates an indication of the interrupt to the guest operating system.

Abstract: A processing system includes one or more first caches and one or more first lock tables associated with the one or more first caches. The processing system also includes one or more processing units that each include a plurality of compute units for concurrently executing work-groups of work items, a plurality of second caches associated with the plurality of compute units and configured in a hierarchy with the one or more first caches, and a plurality of second lock tables associated with the plurality of second caches. The first and second lock tables indicate locking states of addresses of cache lines in the corresponding first and second caches on a per-line basis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting and managing a fault in memory includes detecting an error in data. The error is compared to one or more stored errors in a filter, and based upon the comparison, the error is predicted as a transient error or a permanent error for further action.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing processor functionality includes receiving, by the processor, data relating to one or more environmental conditions. The processor compares the data to pre-existing parameters to determine whether or not the environmental conditions are within the pre-existing parameters for normal operation. If the data are within the pre-existing parameters for normal operation, the processor is operated in a normal operation mode. If the data are outside the pre-existing parameters for normal operation, the processor operates in a second operation mode which is dynamically determined and calibrated during power-on, boot and operation.

Abstract: A processing device comprises a memory configured to store data and a processor. The processor is configured to control an exposure timing of a rolling shutter image sensor and an IR illumination timing of an object, by an IR light emitter, by switching between a first operation mode and a second operation mode. In the first operation mode, a sequence of video frames, each having a plurality of pixel lines, comprises a frame in which each pixel line is exposed to IR light emitted by the IR light emitter; a frame which is partially exposed to the IR light and a frame in which no pixel line is exposed to the IR light. In the second operation mode, alternating video frames of the sequence comprise one of a frame in which each pixel line is exposed to the IR light and a frame in which no pixel line is exposed to the IR light.

Abstract: Systems and methods for efficiently routing qubits in a quantum computing system include selecting bubble nodes and routing qubits to the bubble nodes. The systems and methods further include dividing a system of nodes into regions and selecting a bubble node for each region. The systems and methods further include using super bubble nodes with reliable links connected to other super bubble nodes and bubble nodes to improve cross-region operations.

Abstract: Various energy efficient data encoding schemes and computing devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of transmitting data from a transmitter to a receiver connected by plural wires is provided. The method includes sending from the transmitter on at least one but not all of the wires a first wave form that has first and second signal transitions. The receiver receives the first waveform and measures a first duration between the first and second signal transitions using a locally generated clock signal not received from the transmitter. The first duration is indicative of a first particular data value.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and port controller designs employ a light-weight memory protocol. A light-weight memory protocol controller is selectively coupled to a Cache Coherent Interconnect for Accelerators (CCIX) port. Over an on-chip interconnect fabric, the light-weight protocol controller receives memory access requests from a processor and, in response, transmits associated memory access requests to an external memory through the CCIX port using only a proper subset of CCIX protocol memory transactions types including non-cacheable transactions and non-snooping transactions. The light-weight memory protocol controller is selectively uncoupled from the CCIX port and a remote coherent slave controller is coupled in its place. The remote coherent slave controller receives memory access requests and, in response, transmits associated memory access requests to a memory module through the CCIX port using cacheable CCIX protocol memory transaction types.

Abstract: A technique for compressing an original image is disclosed. According to the technique, an original image is obtained and a delta-encoded image is generated based on the original image. Next, a segregated image is generated based on the delta-encoded image and then the segregated image is compressed to produce a compressed image. The segregated image is generated because the segregated image may be compressed more efficiently than the original image and the delta image.

Abstract: An arithmetic unit performs store-to-load forwarding based on predicted dependencies between store instructions and load instructions. In some embodiments, the arithmetic unit maintains a table of store instructions that are awaiting movement to a load/store unit of the instruction pipeline. In response to receiving a load instruction that is predicted to be dependent on a store instruction stored at the table, the arithmetic unit causes the data associated with the store instruction to be placed into the physical register targeted by the load instruction. In some embodiments, the arithmetic unit performs the forwarding by mapping the physical register targeted by the load instruction to the physical register where the data associated with the store instruction is located.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus determines that one or more tasks should be relocated from a first processor to a second processor by comparing performance metrics to associated thresholds or by using other indications. To relocate the one or more tasks from the first processor to the second processor, the first processor is stalled and state information from the first processor is copied to the second processor. The second processor uses the state information and then services incoming tasks instead of the first processor.