Program flow control for multiple divergent SIMD threads using a minimum resume counter
US8832417B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 7, 2011 |
| Grant date | Sep 9, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 26, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/38885
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
This disclosure describes techniques for handling divergent thread conditions in a multi-threaded processing system. In some examples, a control flow unit may obtain a control flow instruction identified by a program counter value stored in a program counter register. The control flow instruction may include a target value indicative of a target program counter value for the control flow instruction. The control flow unit may select one of the target program counter value and a minimum resume counter value as a value to load into the program counter register. The minimum resume counter value may be indicative of a smallest resume counter value from a set of one or more resume counter values associated with one or more inactive threads. Each of the one or more resume counter values may be indicative of a program counter value at which a respective inactive thread should be activated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.