Abstract: A compiler transforms a high-level program into configuration data for a coarse-grained reconfigurable (CGR) data processor with an array of CGR units. The compiler includes a method that identifies a skip buffer in a dataflow graph, determines limitations associated with the array, and searches for a lowest cost implementation topology and stage depth. At least three topologies are considered, including a cascaded buffer topology, a hybrid buffer topology, and a striped buffer topology. The lowest cost implementation topology and stage depth are based on the size of the buffered data (usually, the size of a tensor), the depth of the skip buffer, and the array's limitations. The hybrid buffer topology includes multiple sections of parallel memory units. The data travels between memory units in one section to adjacent memory units in a next section without intervening reorder buffers.

Abstract: A compiler transforms a high-level program into configuration data for a coarse-grained reconfigurable (CGR) data processor with an array of CGR units. The compiler includes a method that identifies a skip buffer in a dataflow graph, determines limitations associated with the array, and searches for a lowest cost implementation topology and stage depth. At least three topologies are considered, including a cascaded buffer topology, a hybrid buffer topology, and a striped buffer topology. The lowest cost implementation topology and stage depth are based on the size of the buffered data (usually, the size of a tensor), the depth of the skip buffer, and the array's limitations. The hybrid buffer topology includes multiple sections of parallel memory units. The data travels between memory units in one section to adjacent memory units in a next section without intervening reorder buffers.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an execution unit, an instruction queue, and a control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to activate a plurality of processor threads. Each of the plurality of processor threads may include a respective plurality of instructions. The instruction queue may be configured to issue at least one instruction included in the plurality of processor threads to the execution unit at a first rate. The control circuit may also be configured to track, for a particular processor thread, a period of time from activating the particular processor thread. The instruction queue may be further configured to limit issue of a next instruction for at least one other processor thread to a second rate, based on a comparison of the period of time to a threshold amount of time. The second rate may be lower than the first rate.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an execution unit, an instruction queue, and a control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to activate a plurality of processor threads. Each of the plurality of processor threads may include a respective plurality of instructions. The instruction queue may be configured to issue at least one instruction included in the plurality of processor threads to the execution unit at a first rate. The control circuit may also be configured to track, for a particular processor thread, a period of time from activating the particular processor thread. The instruction queue may be further configured to limit issue of a next instruction for at least one other processor thread to a second rate, based on a comparison of the period of time to a threshold amount of time. The second rate may be lower than the first rate.

Abstract: A video processing apparatus and methodology use a combination of a processor and a video decoding hardware block to decode video data by using a reference block cache memory to perform motion compensation decode operations in the video decoding hardware block. To improve the cache hit rate, each memory access for required reference block(s) is used to fetch one or more additional reference blocks which can be used to improve the cache hit rate with future motion compensation operations. Speculative fetch control logic selects the additional reference blocks by using a frequency history table to accumulate compared motion vector information for a current motion compensation block with motion vector information from previously processed motion compensation blocks.

Abstract: A synchronizer module is provided that may be used to facilitate the simulation of circuitry having clock domain crossing signals. A multiple-stage synchronizer may be used where at least one of the multiple synchronizer stages is dynamically enabled and disabled. The synchronizer module may have a delay unit for selectively applying a variable delay. This may allow for better modelling the real-silicon behaviour for simulation purposes to detect signal synchronization problems earlier in the flow, for instance during RTL (Register Transfer Level) design.