Methods and systems for optimally selecting an assist unit

摘要

Methods, apparatuses, and systems that allow a microprocessor to optimally select an assist unit (co-processor) to reduce completion times for completing processing requests to execute functions. The methods, apparatuses, and systems include assist unit hardware, assist unit management software, or a combination of the two to optimally select the assist unit for completing a specific processing request. In optimally selecting an assist unit, the methods, apparatuses, and systems calculate estimated times for completing the processing request with conventional means and with assist units. The times are then compared to determine the fastest time for completing a specific processing request.

主权项

1. A method for optimally selecting an assist unit to reduce completion times for completing requests to execute functions, comprising:
receiving, with a microprocessor, at least one processing request to execute a function with at least one assist unit operatively associated with the microprocessor; determining, in response to the receiving, an assist unit completion time for completing the at least one processing request with the at least one assist unit; determining a hardware thread completion time for completing the at least one processing request with at least one hardware thread operatively associated with the microprocessor; completing the at least one processing request with the at least one assist unit when the assist unit completion time is less than the hardware thread completion time; completing the at least one processing request with another available assist unit when another available assist unit completion time for completing the at least one processing request with the another available assist unit is less than the assist unit completion time; and completing the at least one processing request with the at least one hardware thread when the hardware thread completion time is less than the assist unit completion time.