INSTRUCTION PAGING IN RECONFIGURABLE FABRIC

摘要

Circular buffers containing instructions that enable the execution of operations on logical elements are described where data in the circular buffers is swapped to storage. Data stored in circular buffers is paged in and out to a second level memory. State information for each logical element is also saved and restored using paging memory. Logical elements such as processing elements are provided instructions via circular buffers. The instructions enable a group of processing elements to perform operations implementing a desired functionality. That functionality is changed by updating the circular buffers with new instructions that are transferred from paging memory. The previous instructions can be saved off in paging memory before the new instructions are copied over to the circular buffers. This enables the hardware to be rapidly reconfigured amongst multiple functions.

主权项

1. A processor-implemented method for computation comprising:
paging data stored in a plurality of circular buffers where the paging comprises:
copying data from a first storage memory into the plurality of circular buffers where:
the plurality of circular buffers is coupled to logical elements where the plurality of circular buffers controls the logical elements;the data provides instructions for the logical elements; andas the circular buffers rotate, instructions change that are delivered to the logical elements.