Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. provisional Application No. 60/752,522, filed Dec. 20, 2005, entitled “Multicore Memory Management System” the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly to memory management systems used in such devices. 
     In conventional multi-core systems, each core (processing unit) has an associated tightly coupled memory (TCM) that may be a cache memory.  FIG. 1  shows a system  50  having two cores  10 ,  20  as known in the prior art. Core  10  directly communicates with a dedicated data cache  14  and a dedicated instruction cache  12 . Core  20  directly communicates with a dedicated data cache  24  and a dedicated instruction cache  22 . Because data cache  14  and instruction cache  12  are dedicated to core  10 , these two caches are not accessible to core  20 . Similarly, because data cache  24  and instruction cache  22  are dedicated to core  20 , these two caches are not accessible to core  10 . Cores  10  and  20  are typically configured to execute common instructions. Storing such common instructions in both instruction caches  12  and  22  result in inefficiencies. Similarly, cores  10  and  20  may operate on the same data and, therefore, inefficiencies result from having dedicated data caches. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a multiprocessing system, includes, in part, a multitude of processing units each in direct communication with a bus; a multitude of memory units in direct communication with the bus, and at least one shared memory directly accessible to the plurality of processing units. The shared memory is not in direct communication with the bus. The shared memory may be a cache memory configured to store instructions or data. 
     In one embodiment, the shared memory includes a multitude of banks each of which is accessible directly by each of the processing units. In such embodiments, a first subset of the banks may be configured to store data and a second subset of the banks may be configured to store instructions. In some embodiments, the number of banks is greater than the number of processing units. Each bank may be a single port or a dual port bank. A first multitude of multiplexers, each associated with a different one of the banks, receive data from the processing units during each clock cycle, and supply one of the received data to their associated banks. A second multitude of multiplexers receive data from the plurality of banks during each clock cycle. Each such multiplexer supplies one of the received data at its output terminal during each clock cycle. 
     The multiprocessing system further includes a conflict detection block configured to resolve access conflicts to each of the of the banks in accordance with a number of address bits and a predefined arbitration scheme. In some embodiments, the conflict detection block is configured to provide each of the processing units with sequential access to the banks during consecutive cycles of a clock signal. 
     A method of managing a memory, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, includes, in part, using a bus to transfer data directly between at least one system memory and a multitude of processing units; and sharing at least one memory between the multitude of processing units. The shared memory is not in direct communication with the bus. The shared memory may be a cache memory configured to store instructions or data. 
     Such embodiments further include, in part, partitioning the shared memory into a plurality of banks, transferring data between each of the processing units and each of a first subset of the banks; and transferring instructions between each of the processing units and each of a second subset of the banks. In some embodiments, the number of banks is greater than the number of processing units. Each bank may be a single port or a dual port bank. 
     Such embodiments further include, in part, selectively supplying data during each clock cycle from each of the processing units to the plurality of banks, and selectively retrieving data during each clock cycle from each of the plurality of banks. Such embodiments further include, resolving conflicts in accessing the banks using a number of address bits and in accordance with a predefined arbitration scheme. Such embodiments further include providing each of the processing units with sequential access to the multitude of banks during consecutive cycles of the clock signal. 
     A multiprocessing system, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, includes means for using a bus to transfer data directly between at least one system memory and a multitude of processing units; and means for sharing at least one memory between the multitude of processing units. The shared memory is not in direct communication with the bus. The shared memory may be a cache memory configured to store instructions or data. 
     In such embodiments, the shared memory is partitioned into a plurality of banks. The multiprocessing system further includes means for transferring data between each of the processing units and each of a first subset of the banks; means for transferring instructions between each of the processing units and each of a second subset of the banks. In some embodiments, the number of banks is greater than the number of processing units. Each bank may be a single port or a dual port bank. 
     Such embodiments further include, in part, means for selectively supplying data during each clock cycle from each of the processing units to the plurality of banks, and means for selectively retrieving data during each clock cycle from each of the plurality of banks. Such embodiments further include, means for resolving conflicts in accessing the banks using a number of address bits and in accordance with a predefined arbitration scheme. Such embodiments further include means for providing each of the processing units with sequential access to the multitude of banks during consecutive cycles of the clock signal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified high level block diagram of a multicore system, as known in the prior art. 
         FIG. 2  is a simplified high level block diagram of a multicore system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is more detailed block diagram of a multicore system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 4A-4H  show various devices in which the present invention may be embodied. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, two or more cores of a multi-core system are configured to share the same instruction cache and/or data cache.  FIG. 2  is a simplified high-level block diagram of a multi-core system  100 , in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. System  100  is shown as including a pair of cores (processing units)  110 ,  120 , a shared memory  130  tightly coupled to cores  110 ,  120 , and a pair of system memories  105  and  115  that are accessible to cores  110  and  120  via system bus  125 . Unlike shared memory  130  which is only directly accessible to cores  110  and  120 , system memories  105  and  115  are accessible to other components (not shown) via bus  125 . The exemplary embodiment  100  of the multi-core system of the present invention is shown as having two cores  110 ,  120  and one shared memory  130  tightly coupled to these cores. It is understood that a multi-bore system, in accordance with the present invention, may have more than two cores, and may have more than one shared memory coupled to such cores. 
     In one embodiment, memory  130  may be a cache memory. In another embodiment, memory  130  may include a number of separate and distinct physical or logical memory units, one or more of which may store instructions, and one or more of which may store data. 
     Each of cores  110  and  120  may be configured to perform a different function while using overlapping instruction sets stored in memory  130 . For example, core  110  may be used to control a servo system, and core  120  may be used to control the policies that system  100  is adapted to perform. Because memory  130  stores instruction sets that are common to and executed by both cores  110  and  120 , memory  130  is used efficiently. Moreover, shared memory  130  enables cores  110 , and  120  to share data, which is advantageous in a number of applications, such as those related to processing of video data. 
     In some embodiments, shared memory  130  is dynamically partitioned to provide an optimum storage space for cores  110  and  120 . In such embodiments, both cores  110  and  120  have access to respective portions of memory  130 . Therefore, in such embodiments, access to any particular storage space of shared memory  130  is restricted to only one of the cores during any time period. For example, during one time period, memory  130  may be dynamically divided equally between cores  110  and  120  with each core having access to ½ of memory  130 . During another time period, the storage allocation is dynamically modified so that, for example, ¾ of the storage space of memory  130  is allocated to core  110 , and the remaining ¼ to core  120 , thus providing flexibility. Dynamic allocation of shared memory  130  between cores  110  and  120  may be carried out using a control software. 
     The following description is provided with reference to another exemplary embodiment  300  of a two-core system, shown in  FIG. 3 , in which a tightly coupled memory (TCM)  350  is partitioned into four banks  352 ,  354 ,  356 , and  358 , shared by and accessible to two cores, namely cores  305  and  310 . It is understood, however, that a multi-core system in accordance with the present invention may have more than 2 cores, and that TCM  350  may be partitioned into more or fewer than 4 banks. It is also understood that more than one TCM may be shared by a multi-core system of the present invention, each of which TCMs may be partitioned into a multitude of banks. One or more of such shared TCMs may be used to store instructions, and the remaining of such shared TCMs may be used to store data. It is further understood that each bank of each TCM may be a single port, dual port or a multi-port memory. 
     Referring to exemplary embodiment  300  shown in  FIG. 3 , each of banks  352 ,  354 ,  356 , and  358  is a 32-bit wide memory. Each of the memory banks has an associated input multiplexer. Bank  352  is associated with multiplexer (mux)  342 ; bank  354  is associated with mux  344 ; bank  356  is associated with mux  346 ; and bank  358  is associated with mux  348 . Core  305  is shown as supplying data DIN 0  to a first data input terminal I 0  of each of muxes  342 ,  344 ,  346  and  348 . Core  310  is shown as supplying data DIN 1  to a second data input terminal I 1  of each of muxes  342 ,  344 ,  346  and  348 . In response to a first logic state of select signal Sel, muxes  342 ,  344 ,  346 , and  348  deliver data DIN 0  to their associated memory banks. In response to a second logic state of select signal Sel, muxes  342 ,  344 ,  346 , and  348  deliver data DIN 1  to their associated memory banks. 
     Signal Sel is generated by conflict detection block  360  in response to address bits A[3:2], shown as signals address 1  and address 0  provided by cores  310  and  305 , respectively. In this exemplary embodiment, if these two bits have a decimal value of 0 (A[3:0] hex 0), bank  352  is selected by conflict detection block  360 ; if they have a decimal value of 1 (A[3:0] hex 4), bank  354  is selected by conflict detection block  360 ; if they have a decimal value of 2 (A[3:0] hex 8), bank  356  is selected by conflict detection block  360 ; and if they have a decimal value of 3 (A[3:0] hex C), bank  358  is selected by conflict detection block  360 . To avoid conflicts, when access to any one of the banks is granted to one of the cores, a wait signal is generated to indicate to the other core that the accessed bank is unavailable, as described further below. 
     Assume that during a given cycle, core  305  is seeking access, for either a read, write, or any other memory operation, to address 0×3000 (Hex), and core  310  is seeking access to address 0×4000. Because bits [3:2] of the addresses supplied by both cores is pointing to the same bank  352 , a conflict exists. Assume that in accordance with any one of a number of known arbitration schemes, e.g., round robin, access priority is given to core  305  during cycle T 1 . Accordingly, to ensure that core  310  does not access bank  352  during this period, wait signal Wait 1  is asserted to put core  310  on hold and to inhibit core  310  from accessing bank  352 . During the next cycle T1+1, when core  310  accesses bank  352 , core  305  accesses, for example, bank  354 . During the next cycle T1+2, when core  310  accesses bank  354 , core  305  accesses, for example, bank  356 . Similarly, during the next cycle T1+3, when core  310  accesses bank  356 , core  305  accesses, for example, bank  358 . In other words, in some exemplary embodiments, cores  305  and  310  write data to and read data from across banks  352 ,  354 ,  356  and  358  sequentially. A multi-bit register may be used in conflict detection block  360  to control the manner in which access to various banks and regions within each bank is granted or denied and further to control the assertion and deassertion of the wait signals Wait 0  and Wait 1 . 
     Memory  350  is also shown as having a pair of output muxes  370 , and  372 . The data retrieved from banks  352 ,  354 ,  356 , and  358  are delivered to each of output muxes  370  and  372 . Mux  370  delivers the data it receives from one of the 4 banks to core  305  in response to the address signal address 0  received from core  305 . Mux  372  delivers the data it receives from one of the 4 banks to core  310  in response to the address signal address 1  received from core  310 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4A-4G , various exemplary implementations of the present invention are shown. Referring to  FIG. 4A , the present invention may be embodied in a hard disk drive  400 . The present invention may implement either or both signal processing and/or control circuits, which are generally identified in  FIG. 4A  at  402 . In some implementations, signal processing and/or control circuit  402  and/or other circuits (not shown) in HDD  400  may process data, perform coding and/or encryption, perform calculations, and/or format data that is output to and/or received from a magnetic storage medium  406 . 
     HDD  400  may communicate with a host device (not shown) such as a computer, mobile computing devices such as personal digital assistants, cellular phones, media or MP3 players and the like, and/or other devices via one or more wired or wireless communication links  408 . HDD  400  may be connected to memory  409 , such as random access memory (RAM), a low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory, read only memory (ROM) and/or other suitable electronic data storage. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4B , the present invention may be embodied in a digital versatile disc (DVD) drive  410 . The present invention may implement either or both signal processing and/or control circuits, which are generally identified in  FIG. 4B  at  412 , and/or mass data storage  418  of DVD drive  410 . Signal processing and/or control circuit  412  and/or other circuits (not shown) in DVD  410  may process data, perform coding and/or encryption, perform calculations, and/or format data that is read from and/or data written to an optical storage medium  416 . In some implementations, signal processing and/or control circuit  412  and/or other circuits (not shown) in DVD  410  can also perform other functions such as encoding and/or decoding and/or any other signal processing functions associated with a DVD drive. 
     DVD drive  410  may communicate with an output device (not shown) such as a computer, television or other device via one or more wired or wireless communication links  417 . DVD  410  may communicate with mass data storage  418  that stores data in a nonvolatile manner. Mass data storage  418  may include a hard disk drive (HDD) such as that shown in  FIG. 4A . The HDD may be a mini HDD that includes one or more platters having a diameter that is smaller than approximately 1.8″. DVD  410  may be connected to memory  419 , such as RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory, and/or other suitable electronic data storage. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4C , the present invention may be embodied in a high definition television (HDTV)  420 . The present invention may implement either or both signal processing and/or control circuits, which are generally identified in  FIG. 4C  at  422 , a WLAN interface and/or mass data storage of the HDTV  420 . HDTV  420  receives HDTV input signals in either a wired or wireless format and generates HDTV output signals for a display  426 . In some implementations, signal processing circuit and/or control circuit  422  and/or other circuits (not shown) of HDTV  420  may process data, perform coding and/or encryption, perform calculations, format data and/or perform any other type of HDTV processing that may be required. 
     HDTV  420  may communicate with mass data storage  427  that stores data in a nonvolatile manner such as optical and/or magnetic storage devices. At least one HDD may have the configuration shown in  FIG. 4A  and/or at least one DVD may have the configuration shown in  FIG. 4B . The HDD may be a mini HDD that includes one or more platters having a diameter that is smaller than approximately 1.8″. HDTV  420  may be connected to memory  428  such as RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage. HDTV  420  also may support connections with a WLAN via a WLAN network interface  429 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4D , the present invention implements a control system of a vehicle  430 , a WLAN interface and/or mass data storage of the vehicle control system. In some implementations, the present invention implements a powertrain control system  432  that receives inputs from one or more sensors such as temperature sensors, pressure sensors, rotational sensors, airflow sensors and/or any other suitable sensors and/or that generates one or more output control signals such as engine operating parameters, transmission operating parameters, and/or other control signals. 
     The present invention may also be embodied in other control systems  440  of vehicle  430 . Control system  440  may likewise receive signals from input sensors  442  and/or output control signals to one or more output devices  444 . In some implementations, control system  440  may be part of an anti-lock braking system (ABS), a navigation system, a telematics system, a vehicle telematics system, a lane departure system, an adaptive cruise control system, a vehicle entertainment system such as a stereo, DVD, compact disc and the like. Still other implementations are contemplated. 
     Powertrain control system  432  may communicate with mass data storage  446  that stores data in a nonvolatile manner. Mass data storage  446  may include optical and/or magnetic storage devices for example hard disk drives HDD and/or DVDs. At least one HDD may have the configuration shown in  FIG. 4A  and/or at least one DVD may have the configuration shown in  FIG. 4B . The HDD may be a mini HDD that includes one or more platters having a diameter that is smaller than approximately 1.8″. Powertrain control system  432  may be connected to memory  447  such as RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage. Powertrain control system  432  also may support connections with a WLAN via a WLAN network interface  448 . The control system  440  may also include mass data storage, memory and/or a WLAN interface (all not shown). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4E , the present invention may be embodied in a cellular phone  450  that may include a cellular antenna  451 . The present invention may implement either or both signal processing and/or control circuits, which are generally identified in  FIG. 4E  at  452 , a WLAN interface and/or mass data storage of the cellular phone  450 . In some implementations, cellular phone  450  includes a microphone  456 , an audio output  458  such as a speaker and/or audio output jack, a display  460  and/or an input device  462  such as a keypad, pointing device, voice actuation and/or other input device. Signal processing and/or control circuits  452  and/or other circuits (not shown) in cellular phone  450  may process data, perform coding and/or encryption, perform calculations, format data and/or perform other cellular phone functions. 
     Cellular phone  450  may communicate with mass data storage  464  that stores data in a nonvolatile manner such as optical and/or magnetic storage devices for example hard disk drives HDD and/or DVDs. At least one HDD may have the configuration shown in  FIG. 4A  and/or at least one DVD may have the configuration shown in  FIG. 4B . The HDD may be a mini HDD that includes one or more platters having a diameter that is smaller than approximately 1.8″. Cellular phone  450  may be connected to memory  466  such as RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage. Cellular phone  450  also may support connections with a WLAN via a WLAN network interface  468 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4F , the present invention may be embodied in a set top box  480 . The present invention may implement either or both signal processing and/or control circuits, which are generally identified in  FIG. 4F  at  484 , a WLAN interface and/or mass data storage of the set top box  480 . Set top box  480  receives signals from a source such as a broadband source and outputs standard and/or high definition audio/video signals suitable for a display  488  such as a television and/or monitor and/or other video and/or audio output devices. Signal processing and/or control circuits  484  and/or other circuits (not shown) of the set top box  480  may process data, perform coding and/or encryption, perform calculations, format data and/or perform any other set top box function. 
     Set top box  480  may communicate with mass data storage  490  that stores data in a nonvolatile manner. Mass data storage  490  may include optical and/or magnetic storage devices for example hard disk drives HDD and/or DVDs. At least one HDD may have the configuration shown in  FIG. 4A  and/or at least one DVD may have the configuration shown in  FIG. 4B . The HDD may be a mini HDD that includes one or more platters having a diameter that is smaller than approximately 1.8″. Set top box  480  may be connected to memory  494  such as RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage. Set top box  480  also may support connections with a WLAN via a WLAN network interface  496 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4G , the present invention may be embodied in a media player  472 . The present invention may implement either or both signal processing and/or control circuits, which are generally identified in  FIG. 4G  at  471 , a WLAN interface and/or mass data storage of the media player  472 . In some implementations, media player  472  includes a display  476  and/or a user input  477  such as a keypad, touchpad and the like. In some implementations, media player  472  may employ a graphical user interface (GUI) that typically employs menus, drop down menus, icons and/or a point-and-click interface via display  476  and/or user input  477 . Media player  472  further includes an audio output  475  such as a speaker and/or audio output jack. Signal processing and/or control circuits  471  and/or other circuits (not shown) of media player  472  may process data, perform coding and/or encryption, perform calculations, format data and/or perform any other media player function. 
     Media player  472  may communicate with mass data storage  470  that stores data such as compressed audio and/or video content in a nonvolatile manner. In some implementations, the compressed audio files include files that are compliant with MP3 format or other suitable compressed audio and/or video formats. The mass data storage may include optical and/or magnetic storage devices for example hard disk drives HDD and/or DVDs. At least one HDD may have the configuration shown in  FIG. 4A  and/or at least one DVD may have the configuration shown in  FIG. 4B . The HDD may be a mini HDD that includes one or more platters having a diameter that is smaller than approximately 1.8″. Media player  472  may be connected to memory  473  such as RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage. Media player  472  also may support connections with a WLAN via a WLAN network interface  474 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4H , the present invention may be embodied in a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone  483  that may include an antenna  439 . The present invention may implement either or both signal processing and/or control circuits, which are generally identified in  FIG. 4H  at  482 , a wireless interface and/or mass data storage of the VoIP phone  483 . In some implementations, VoIP phone  483  includes, in part, a microphone  487 , an audio output  489  such as a speaker and/or audio output jack, a display monitor  491 , an input device  492  such as a keypad, pointing device, voice actuation and/or other input devices, and a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication module  486 . Signal processing and/or control circuits  482  and/or other circuits (not shown) in VoIP phone  483  may process data, perform coding and/or encryption, perform calculations, format data and/or perform other VoIP phone functions. 
     VoIP phone  483  may communicate with mass data storage  502  that stores data in a nonvolatile manner such as optical and/or magnetic storage devices, for example hard disk drives HDD and/or DVDs. At least one HDD may have the configuration shown in  FIG. 4A  and/or at least one DVD may have the configuration shown in  FIG. 4B . The HDD may be a mini HDD that includes one or more platters having a diameter that is smaller than approximately 1.8″. VoIP phone  483  may be connected to memory  485 , which may be a RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage. VoIP phone  483  is configured to establish communications link with a VoIP network (not shown) via Wi-Fi communication module  486 . Still other implementations in addition to those described above are contemplated. 
     The above embodiments of the present invention are illustrative and not limiting. Various alternatives and equivalents are possible. The invention is not limited by the number of cores, nor is it limited by the number of shared memories tightly coupled to the cores. The invention is not limited by the number of banks in each shared memory. The invention is not limited by the type of integrated circuit in which the present disclosure may be disposed. Nor is the disclosure limited to any specific type of process technology, e.g., CMOS, Bipolar, or BICMOS that may be used to manufacture the present disclosure. Other additions, subtractions or modifications are obvious in view of the present disclosure.

Technology Category: 3