Patents by Inventor Alan Gara

Alan Gara has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8751748
    Abstract: In a parallel processing system with speculative execution, conflict checking occurs in a directory lookup of a cache memory that is shared by all processors. In each case, the same physical memory address will map to the same set of that cache, no matter which processor originated that access. The directory includes a dynamic reader set encoding, indicating what speculative threads have read a particular line. This reader set encoding is used in conflict checking. A bitset encoding is used to specify particular threads that have read the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Ahn, Luis H. Ceze, Alan Gara, Martin Ohmacht, Zhuang Xiaotong
  • Publication number: 20140122980
    Abstract: A system and method for enabling high-speed, low-latency global collective communications among interconnected processing nodes. The global collective network optimally enables collective reduction operations to be performed during parallel algorithm operations executing in a computer structure having a plurality of the interconnected processing nodes. Router devices are included that interconnect the nodes of the network via links to facilitate performance of low-latency global processing operations at nodes of the virtual network and class structures. The global collective network may be configured to provide global barrier and interrupt functionality in asynchronous or synchronized manner. When implemented in a massively-parallel supercomputing structure, the global collective network is physically and logically partitionable according to needs of a processing algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthias A. Blumrich, Paul W. Coteus, Dong Chen, Alan Gara, Mark E. Giampapa, Philip Heidelberger, Dirk Hoenicke, Todd Takken, Burkhard Steinmacher-Burow, Pavlos M. Vranas
  • Patent number: 8671311
    Abstract: System, method and computer program product for a multiprocessing system to offer selective pairing of processor cores for increased processing reliability. A selective pairing facility is provided that selectively connects, i.e., pairs, multiple microprocessor or processor cores to provide one highly reliable thread (or thread group). Each paired microprocessor or processor cores that provide one highly reliable thread for high-reliability connect with a system components such as a memory “nest” (or memory hierarchy), an optional system controller, and optional interrupt controller, optional I/O or peripheral devices, etc. The memory nest is attached to a selective pairing facility via a switch or a bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Gara, Michael K. Gschwind, Valentina Salapura
  • Publication number: 20140052970
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed for measuring a performance of a program running on a processing unit of a processing system. In one embodiment, the method comprises informing a logic unit of each instruction in the program that is executed by the processing unit, assigning a weight to each instruction, assigning the instructions to a plurality of groups, and analyzing the plurality of groups to measure one or more metrics. In one embodiment, each instruction includes an operating code portion, and the assigning includes assigning the instructions to the groups based on the operating code portions of the instructions. In an embodiment, each type of instruction is assigned to a respective one of the plurality of groups. These groups may be combined into a plurality of sets of the groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan Gara, David L. Satterfield, Robert E. Walkup
  • Patent number: 8635492
    Abstract: System, method and computer program product for a multiprocessing system to offer selective pairing of processor cores for increased processing reliability. A selective pairing facility is provided that selectively connects, i.e., pairs, multiple microprocessor or processor cores to provide one highly reliable thread (or thread group). Each paired microprocessor or processor cores that provide one highly reliable thread for high-reliability connect with a system components such as a memory “nest” (or memory hierarchy), an optional system controller, and optional interrupt controller, optional I/O or peripheral devices, etc. The memory nest is attached to a selective pairing facility via a switch or a bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Gara, Michael K. Gschwind, Valentina Salapura
  • Patent number: 8626957
    Abstract: A system and method for enabling high-speed, low-latency global collective communications among interconnected processing nodes. The global collective network optimally enables collective reduction operations to be performed during parallel algorithm operations executing in a computer structure having a plurality of the interconnected processing nodes. Router devices are included that interconnect the nodes of the network via links to facilitate performance of low-latency global processing operations at nodes of the virtual network. The global collective network may be configured to provide global barrier and interrupt functionality in asynchronous or synchronized manner. When implemented in a massively-parallel supercomputing structure, the global collective network is physically and logically partitionable according to needs of a processing algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthias A. Blumrich, Paul W. Coteus, Dong Chen, Alan Gara, Mark E. Giampapa, Philip Heidelberger, Dirk Hoenicke, Todd E. Takken, Burkhard D. Steinmacher-Burow, Pavlos M. Vranas
  • Patent number: 8621478
    Abstract: A multiprocessor system supports multiple concurrent modes of speculative execution. Speculation identification numbers (IDs) are allocated to speculative threads from a pool of available numbers. The pool is divided into domains, with each domain being assigned to a mode of speculation. Modes of speculation include TM, TLS, and rollback. Allocation of the IDs is carried out with respect to a central state table and using hardware pointers. The IDs are used for writing different versions of speculative results in different ways of a set in a cache memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Ahn, Luis H. Ceze, Dong Chen, Alan Gara, Philip Heidelberger, Martin Ohmacht
  • Patent number: 8621167
    Abstract: A device for copying performance counter data includes hardware path that connects a direct memory access (DMA) unit to a plurality of hardware performance counters and a memory device. Software prepares an injection packet for the DMA unit to perform copying, while the software can perform other tasks. In one aspect, the software that prepares the injection packet runs on a processing core other than the core that gathers the hardware performance counter data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Gara, Valentina Salapura, Robert W. Wisniewski
  • Patent number: 8595389
    Abstract: A plurality of first performance counter modules is coupled to a plurality of processing cores. The plurality of first performance counter modules is operable to collect performance data associated with the plurality of processing cores respectively. A plurality of second performance counter modules are coupled to a plurality of L2 cache units, and the plurality of second performance counter modules are operable to collect performance data associated with the plurality of L2 cache units respectively. A central performance counter module may be operable to coordinate counter data from the plurality of first performance counter modules and the plurality of second performance modules, the a central performance counter module, the plurality of first performance counter modules, and the plurality of second performance counter modules connected by a daisy chain connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kristan D. Davis, Kahn C. Evans, Alan Gara, David L. Satterfield
  • Patent number: 8595554
    Abstract: Fixing a problem is usually greatly aided if the problem is reproducible. To ensure reproducibility of a multiprocessor system, the following aspects are proposed: a deterministic system start state, a single system clock, phase alignment of clocks in the system, system-wide synchronization events, reproducible execution of system components, deterministic chip interfaces, zero-impact communication with the system, precise stop of the system and a scan of the system state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph A. Bellofatto, Dong Chen, Paul W. Coteus, Noel A. Eisley, Alan Gara, Thomas M. Gooding, Rudolf A. Haring, Philip Heidelberger, Gerard V. Kopcsay, Thomas A. Liebsch, Martin Ohmacht, Don D. Reed, Robert M. Senger, Burkhard Steinmacher-Burow, Yutaka Sugawara
  • Patent number: 8571847
    Abstract: A processor-implemented method for improving efficiency of a static core turn-off in a multi-core processor with variation, the method comprising: conducting via a simulation a turn-off analysis of the multi-core processor at the multi-core processor's design stage, wherein the turn-off analysis of the multi-core processor at the multi-core processor's design stage includes a first output corresponding to a first multi-core processor core to turn off; conducting a turn-off analysis of the multi-core processor at the multi-core processor's testing stage, wherein the turn-off analysis of the multi-core processor at the multi-core processor's testing stage includes a second output corresponding to a second multi-core processor core to turn off; comparing the first output and the second output to determine if the first output is referring to the same core to turn off as the second output; outputting a third output corresponding to the first multi-core processor core if the first output and the second output are b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
  • Patent number: 8571834
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed for measuring a performance of a program running on a processing unit of a processing system. In one embodiment, the method comprises informing a logic unit of each instruction in the program that is executed by the processing unit, assigning a weight to each instruction, assigning the instructions to a plurality of groups, and analyzing the plurality of groups to measure one or more metrics. In one embodiment, each instruction includes an operating code portion, and the assigning includes assigning the instructions to the groups based on the operating code portions of the instructions. In an embodiment, each type of instruction is assigned to a respective one of the plurality of groups. These groups may be combined into a plurality of sets of the groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Gara, David L. Satterfield, Robert E. Walkup
  • Publication number: 20130283123
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for providing combined error code protection and subgroup parity protection for a given group of n bits. The method comprises the steps of identifying a number, m, of redundant bits for said error protection; and constructing a matrix P, wherein multiplying said given group of n bits with P produces m redundant error correction code (ECC) protection bits, and two columns of P provide parity protection for subgroups of said given group of n bits. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the matrix P is constructed by generating permutations of m bit wide vectors with three or more, but an odd number of, elements with value one and the other elements with value zero; and assigning said vectors to rows of the matrix P.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Alan Gara, Dong Chen, Philip Heidelberger, Martin Ohmacht
  • Patent number: 8549363
    Abstract: A processor-implemented method for determining aging of a processing unit in a processor the method comprising: calculating an effective aging profile for the processing unit wherein the effective aging profile quantifies the effects of aging on the processing unit; combining the effective aging profile with process variation data, actual workload data and operating conditions data for the processing unit; and determining aging through an aging sensor of the processing unit using the effective aging profile, the process variation data, the actual workload data, architectural characteristics and redundancy data, and the operating conditions data for the processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
  • Patent number: 8521990
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for embedding a global barrier and global interrupt network in a parallel computer system organized as a torus network. The computer system includes a multitude of nodes. In one embodiment, the method comprises taking inputs from a set of receivers of the nodes, dividing the inputs from the receivers into a plurality of classes, combining the inputs of each of the classes to obtain a result, and sending said result to a set of senders of the nodes. Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for embedding a collective network in a parallel computer system organized as a torus network. In one embodiment, the method comprises adding to a torus network a central collective logic to route messages among at least a group of nodes in a tree structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dong Chen, Paul W. Coteus, Noel A. Eisley, Alan Gara, Philip Heidelberger, Robert M. Senger, Valentina Salapura, Burkhard Steinmacher-Burow, Yutaka Sugawara, Todd E. Takken
  • Patent number: 8521961
    Abstract: Mechanisms for generating checkpoints in a speculative versioning cache of a data processing system are provided. The mechanisms execute code within the data processing system, wherein the code accesses cache lines in the speculative versioning cache. The mechanisms further determine whether a first condition occurs indicating a need to generate a checkpoint in the speculative versioning cache. The checkpoint is a speculative cache line which is made non-speculative in response to a second condition occurring that requires a roll-back of changes to a cache line corresponding to the speculative cache line. The mechanisms also generate the checkpoint in the speculative versioning cache in response to a determination that the first condition has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandre E. Eichenberger, Alan Gara, Michael K. Gschwind, Martin Ohmacht
  • Patent number: 8473683
    Abstract: A parallel computing system processes at least one store instruction. A first processor core issues a store instruction. A first queue, associated with the first processor core, stores the store instruction. A second queue, associated with a first local cache memory device of the first processor core, stores the store instruction. The first processor core updates first data in the first local cache memory device according to the store instruction. The third queue, associated with at least one shared cache memory device, stores the store instruction. The first processor core invalidates second data, associated with the store instruction, in the at least one shared cache memory. The first processor core invalidates third data, associated with the store instruction, in other local cache memory devices of other processor cores. The first processor core flushing only the first queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Gara, Martin Ohmacht
  • Patent number: 8458282
    Abstract: A computing apparatus for reducing the amount of processing in a network computing system which includes a network system device of a receiving node for receiving electronic messages comprising data. The electronic messages are transmitted from a sending node. The network system device determines when more data of a specific electronic message is being transmitted. A memory device stores the electronic message data and communicating with the network system device. A memory subsystem communicates with the memory device. The memory subsystem stores a portion of the electronic message when more data of the specific message will be received, and the buffer combines the portion with later received data and moves the data to the memory device for accessible storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dong Chen, Alan Gara, Philip Heidelberger, Martin Ohmacht, Pavlos Vranas
  • Patent number: 8458684
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for inserting indicated instructions for tracking and indicating exceptions in the execution of vectorized code. A portion of first code is received for compilation. The portion of first code is analyzed to identify non-speculative instructions performing designated non-speculative operations in the first code that are candidates for replacement by replacement operation-and-indicate instructions that perform the designated non-speculative operations and further perform an indication operation for indicating any exception conditions corresponding to special exception values present in vector register inputs to the replacement operation-and-indicate instructions. The replacement is performed and second code is generated based on the replacement of the at least one non-speculative instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandre E. Eichenberger, Alan Gara, Michael K. Gschwind
  • Patent number: 8429377
    Abstract: A system and method for accessing memory are provided. The system comprises a lookup buffer for storing one or more page table entries, wherein each of the one or more page table entries comprises at least a virtual page number and a physical page number; a logic circuit for receiving a virtual address from said processor, said logic circuit for matching the virtual address to the virtual page number in one of the page table entries to select the physical page number in the same page table entry, said page table entry having one or more bits set to exclude a memory range from a page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dong Chen, Alan Gara, Mark E. Giampapa, Philip Heidelberger, Jon K. Kriegel, Martin Ohmacht, Burkhard Steinmacher-Burow