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Software Patent Abstract
An improved scheduling technique for software pipelining is disclosed
which is designed to find schedules requiring fewer processor clock
cycles and reduce register pressure hot spots when scheduling multiple
groups of instructions (e.g. as represented by multiple sub-graphs
of a DDG) which are independent, and substantially identical. The
improvement in instruction scheduling and reduction of hot spots
is achieved by evenly distributing such groups of instructions around
the schedule for a given loop.
Software Patent Claims
1. A method of scheduling multiple groups of instructions in a computer
program for execution on a processor, said processor being schedulable
using a looped schedule, comprising: (i) identifying independent,
and substantially identical groups of instructions in said computer
program; (ii) counting the number of said groups of instructions
identified in (i); (iii) identifying a minimum number of cycles
in which scheduling may be completed on said processor in said looped
schedule; (iv) calculating, in dependence upon the number of said
groups of instructions counted in (ii) and said minimum number of
cycles identified in (iii), a starting cycle location in said looped
schedule for each of said groups of instructions.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein (i) comprises identifying independent,
substantially identical sub-graphs in a data dependency graph (DDG)
corresponding to said computer program, said sub-graphs corresponding
to said groups of instructions.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein (ii) comprises counting the number
of independent, substantially identical sub-graphs of a given type.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein in (iii) said minimum number
of cycles in which scheduling may be completed on said processor
is calculated based on the number of independent, substantially
identical sub-graphs of a given type counted in (ii), and based
on maximum usage of operational performance characteristics of said
processor.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising assigning sub-graphs
of a given type a count number, beginning with 0, and calculating
said starting cycle location for each said sub-graph dependent upon
the following function: ceil((this sub-graph's count number)*(initiation
interval)/(total number of sub-graphs of this type)); where "ceil(n)"
rounds the value `n` up to the nearest integer, and said initiation
interval is the minimum number of cycles in which scheduling may
be completed on said processor in said looped schedule, as calculated
in (iv).
6. The method of claim 5, wherein said calculating said starting
cycle location for each said sub-graph is also dependent upon a
sum of said ceil(n) function and an original starting cycle.
7. A system for scheduling multiple groups of instructions in a
computer program for execution on a processor, said processor being
schedulable using a looped schedule, comprising: (a) means for identifying
independent, and substantially identical groups of instructions
in said computer program; (b) means for counting the number of said
groups of instructions identified in (a); (c) means for identifying
a minimum number of cycles in which scheduling may be completed
on said processor in said looped schedule; (d) means for calculating,
in dependence upon the number of said groups of instructions counted
in (b) and said minimum number of cycles identified in (c), a starting
cycle location in said looped schedule for each of said groups of
instructions.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein (a) comprises means for identifying
independent substantially identical sub-graphs in a data dependency
graph (DDG) corresponding to said computer program, said sub-graphs
corresponding to said groups of instructions.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein (b) comprises means for counting
the number of independent, substantially identical sub-graphs of
a given type.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein in (c) said minimum number of
cycles in which scheduling may be completed on said processor is
calculated based on the number of independent, substantially identical
sub-graphs of a given type counted in (b), and based on maximum
usage of operational performance characteristics of said processor.
11. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for assigning
sub-graphs of a given type a count number, beginning with 0, and
calculating said starting cycle location for each said sub-graph
dependent upon the following function: ceil((this sub-graph's count
number)*(initiation interval)/(total number of sub-graphs of this
type)); where "ceil(n)" rounds the value `n` up to the
nearest integer, and said initiation interval is the minimum number
of cycles in which scheduling may be completed on said processor
in said looped schedule, as calculated in (d).
12. The system of claim 11, wherein said means for calculating
said starting cycle location for each said sub-graph is also dependent
upon a sum of said ceil(n) function and an original starting cycle
location set by another function.
13. (canceled)
14. A computer readable medium having computer readable program
code embedded in the medium for scheduling multiple groups of instructions
in a computer program for execution on a processor, said processor
being schedulable using a looped schedule, the computer readable
program code including: (a) code for identifying independent, and
substantially identical groups of instructions in said computer
program; (b) code for counting the number of said groups of instructions
identified in (a); (c) code for identifying a minimum number of
cycles in which scheduling may be completed on said processor in
said looped schedule; (d) code for calculating, in dependence upon
the number of said groups of instructions counted in (b) and said
minimum number of cycles identified in (c), a starting cycle location
in said looped schedule for each of said groups of instructions.
15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein (a) comprises
identifying independent, substantially identical sub-graphs in a
data dependency graph (DDG) corresponding to said computer program,
said sub-graphs corresponding to said groups of instructions.
16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein (b) comprises
counting the number of independent, substantially identical sub-graphs
of a given type.
17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein in (c) said
minimum number of cycles in which scheduling may be completed on
said processor is calculated based on the number of independent,
substantially identical sub-graphs of a given type counted in (b),
and based on maximum usage of operational performance characteristics
of said processor.
18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising
code for assigning sub-graphs of a given type a count number, beginning
with 0, and calculating said starting cycle location for each said
sub-graph dependent upon the following function: ceil((this sub-graph's
count number)*(initiation interval)/(total number of sub-graphs
of this type)); where "ceil(n)" rounds the value `n` up
to the nearest integer, and said initiation interval is the minimum
number of cycles in which scheduling may be completed on said processor
in said looped schedule, as calculated in (d).
19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein said code
for calculating said starting cycle location for each said sub-graph
is configured to calculate a sum of said ceil(n) function and an
original starting cycle.
Software Patent Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates generally to computer systems
and programs, and more specifically to an improved scheduling technique
for software pipelining.
[0002] Software pipelining is a compiler optimization technique
for reordering hardware instructions within a given loop of a computer
program being compiled, so as to minimize the number of cycles required
to execute each iteration of the loop. More specifically, software
pipelining attempts to optimize the scheduling of such hardware
instructions by overlapping the execution of instructions from multiple
iterations of the loop.
[0003] For the purposes of the present discussion, it may be helpful
to introduce some commonly used terms in software pipelining. As
well known in the art, individual machine instructions in a computer
program may be represented as "nodes" having assigned
node numbers, and the dependencies and latencies between the various
instructions may be represented as "edges" between nodes
in a data dependency graph ("DDG"). A grouping of related
instructions, as represented by a grouping of interconnected nodes
in a DDG, is commonly known as a "sub-graph". If the nodes
of one sub-graph have no dependencies on nodes of another sub-graph,
these two sub-graphs may be said to be "independent" of
each other.
[0004] Software pipelining techniques may be used to attempt to
optimally schedule the nodes of the sub-graphs found in a DDG. A
well known technique for performing software pipelining is "modulo
scheduling". Based on certain calculations, modulo scheduling
selects a likely minimum number of cycles that the loops of a computer
program will execute in, usually called the initiation interval
("II"), and attempts to place all of the instructions
into a schedule of that size. Using this technique, instructions
are placed in a schedule consisting of the number of cycles equal
to the II. If, while scheduling, some instructions do not fit within
II cycles, then these instructions are wrapped around the end of
the schedule into the next iteration, or iterations, of the schedule.
If an instruction is wrapped into a successive iteration, the instruction
executes and consumes machine resources as though it were placed
in the cycle equal to a placed cycle % (modulo operator) II. Thus,
for example, if an instruction is placed in cycle "10",
and the II is 7, then the instruction would execute and consume
resources at cycle "3" in another iteration of the scheduled
loop. When some instructions of a loop are placed in successive
iterations of the schedule, the result is a schedule that overlaps
the execution of instructions from multiple iterations of the original
loop. If the scheduling fails to place all of the instructions for
a given II, the modulo scheduling technique iteratively increases
the II of the schedule and tries to complete the schedule again.
This is repeated until the scheduling is completed.
[0005] As also known in the art, swing modulo scheduling ("SMS")
is a specific modulo scheduling technique designed to improve upon
other known modulo scheduling techniques in terms of the number
of cycles, length of the schedule, and registers used. For a more
detailed description of SMS, the reader is directed to a paper entitled
"Lifetime-Sensitive Modulo Scheduling in a Production Environment"
by Joseph Llosa et al., IEEE Transactions on Computers, Vol. 50,
No. 3, March 2001, pp. 234-249. SMS has some distinct features.
For example, SMS allows scheduling of instructions (i.e. nodes in
a DDG) in a prioritized order, and it allows placement of the instructions
in the schedule to occur in both "forward" and "backward"
directions.
[0006] In certain situations, SMS and other known software pipelining
techniques may fail to find an optimal schedule. In particular,
finding the optimal schedule may be difficult when there are multiple
groups of instructions (i.e. sub-graphs) which are independent,
and substantially identical in structure (for example, this may
result from "unrolling" a loop of a computer program where
there are no dependencies between the unrolled iterations). Attempted
scheduling of such independent, and substantially identical groups
of instructions using known scheduling techniques may result in
a cumulative bunching of instructions at various spots within the
schedule. This can lead to less than optimal scheduling of loops
in terms of the number of execution cycles (i.e. the II). Regions
of high register pressure (i.e. register pressure hot spots) also
may result.
[0007] Thus, an improved scheduling technique which may lower the
number of cycles for execution and reduce register pressure hot
spots would be desirable.
SUMMARY
[0008] The present invention provides an improved scheduling technique
for software pipelining which is designed to find schedules requiring
fewer processor clock cycles and reduce register pressure hot spots
when scheduling multiple groups of instructions (e.g. as represented
by multiple sub-graphs of a DDG) which are independent, and substantially
identical. More specifically, the improvement in instruction scheduling
and reduction of hot spots is achieved by evenly distributing such
groups of instructions around the schedule for a given loop.
[0009] In an embodiment, repetitive, independent sub-graphs are
first located in a computer program using a suitable sub-graph identification
technique. Once the sub-graphs have been identified, a heuristic
may be used to determine if the sub-graphs are substantially identical
in structure. For example, the heuristic may analyse and compare
the number of instructions, the cycle delays, and the length of
a sub-graph.
[0010] In an embodiment, once the independent, substantially identical
sub-graphs have been identified and grouped, the instructions contained
in the sub-graphs may then be placed into a schedule at suitable
calculated intervals to evenly distribute the instructions in those
sub-graphs around the loops of the schedule. In an embodiment, this
interval may be determined in dependence on the number of cycles
available in a schedule, and the number of sub-graphs identified.
[0011] Using the above described scheduling technique, instructions
may be more evenly distributed around the loop of the schedule so
that they will compete for the same resources less often, in any
given cycle in the schedule.
[0012] While particularly effective with the SMS technique mentioned
above, the teachings of the present invention may be practiced with
other software pipelining techniques to more evenly distribute the
load of multiple, independent, substantially identical groups of
instructions around the schedules for certain loops.
[0013] In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a
method of scheduling multiple groups of instructions in a computer
program for execution on a processor, said processor being schedulable
using a looped schedule, comprising:
[0014] (i) identifying independent, and substantially identical
groups of instructions in said computer program;
[0015] (ii) counting the number of said groups of instructions
identified in (i);
[0016] (iii) identifying a likely minimum number of cycles in which
scheduling may be completed on said processor in said looped schedule;
[0017] (iv) calculating, in dependence upon the number of said
groups of instructions counted in (ii) and said minimum number of
cycles identified in (iii), a suitable starting cycle location in
said looped schedule for each of said groups of instructions.
[0018] In an embodiment of the first aspect, (i) comprises identifying
independent, substantially identical sub-graphs in a data dependency
graph (DDG) corresponding to said computer program, said sub-graphs
corresponding to said groups of instructions.
[0019] In another embodiment of the first aspect, (ii) comprises
counting the number of independent, substantially identical sub-graphs
of a given type.
[0020] In yet another embodiment of the first aspect, in (iii)
said minimum number of cycles in which scheduling may be completed
on said processor is calculated based on the number of independent,
substantially identical sub-graphs of a given type counted in (ii),
and based on maximum usage of operational performance characteristics
of said processor.
[0021] In another embodiment of the first aspect, the method further
comprises assigning sub-graphs of a given type a count number, beginning
with 0, and calculating said suitable starting cycle location for
each said sub-graph dependent upon the following function: [0022]
ceil((this sub-graph's count number)*(II)/(total number of sub-graphs
of this type));
[0023] where "ceil(n)" rounds the value `n` up to the
nearest integer, and II is the likely minimum number of cycles in
which scheduling may be completed on said processor in said looped
schedule, as calculated in (iv).
[0024] In another embodiment, said calculating said starting cycle
location for each said sub-graph is also dependent upon a sum of
said ceil(n) function and an original starting cycle.
[0025] In a second aspect, there is provided a system for scheduling
multiple groups of instructions in a computer program for execution
on a processor, said processor being schedulable using a looped
schedule, comprising:
[0026] (a) means for identifying independent, and substantially
identical groups of instructions in said computer program;
[0027] (b) means for counting the number of said groups of instructions
identified in (a);
[0028] (c) means for identifying a likely minimum number of cycles
in which scheduling may be completed on said processor in said looped
schedule;
[0029] (d) means for calculating, in dependence upon the number
of said groups of instructions counted in (b) and said minimum number
of cycles identified in (c), a suitable starting cycle location
in said looped schedule for each of said groups of instructions.
[0030] In an embodiment of the second aspect, (a) comprises means
for identifying independent, substantially identical sub-graphs
in a data dependency graph (DDG) corresponding to said computer
program, said sub-graphs corresponding to said groups of instructions.
[0031] In another embodiment of the second aspect (b) comprises
means for counting the number of independent, substantially identical
sub-graphs of a given type.
[0032] In another embodiment of the second aspect, in (c) said
minimum number of cycles in which scheduling may be completed on
said processor is calculated based on the number of independent,
substantially identical sub-graphs of a given type counted in (b),
and based on maximum usage of operational performance characteristics
of said processor.
[0033] In yet another embodiment of the second aspect, the system
further comprises means for assigning sub-graphs of a given type
a count number, beginning with 0, and calculating said suitable
starting cycle location for each said sub-graph dependent upon the
following function: [0034] ceil((this sub-graph's count number)*(II)/(total
number of sub-graphs of this type));
[0035] where "ceil(n)" rounds the value `n` up to the
nearest integer, and II is the likely minimum number of cycles in
which scheduling may be completed on said processor in said looped
schedule, as calculated in (d).
[0036] In another embodiment of the second aspect, said means for
calculating said starting cycle location for each said sub-graph
is also dependent upon a sum of said ceil(n) function and an original
starting cycle location set by another function.
[0037] In a third aspect, there is provided a system for scheduling
multiple groups of instructions in a computer program for execution
on a processor, said processor being schedulable using a looped
schedule, comprising:
[0038] (a) a module for identifying independent, and substantially
identical groups of instructions in said computer program;
[0039] (b) a module for counting the number of said groups of instructions
identified in (a);
[0040] (c) a module for identifying a likely minimum number of
cycles in which scheduling may be completed on said processor in
said looped schedule;
[0041] (d) a module for calculating, in dependence upon the number
of said groups of instructions counted in (b) and said minimum number
of cycles identified in (c), a suitable starting cycle location
in said looped schedule for each of said groups of instructions.
[0042] In a fourth aspect, there is provided a computer readable
medium having computer readable program code embedded in the medium
for scheduling multiple groups of instructions in a computer program
for execution on a processor, said processor being schedulable using
a looped schedule, the computer readable program code including:
[0043] (a) code for identifying independent, and substantially
identical groups of instructions in said computer program;
[0044] (b) code for counting the number of said groups of instructions
identified in (a);
[0045] (c) code for identifying a likely minimum number of cycles
in which scheduling may be completed on said processor in said looped
schedule;
[0046] (d) code for calculating, in dependence upon the number
of said groups of instructions counted in (b) and said minimum number
of cycles identified in (c), a suitable starting cycle location
in said looped schedule for each of said groups of instructions.
[0047] an embodiment of the fourth aspect (a) comprises code for
identifying independent, substantially identical sub-graphs in a
data dependency graph (DDG) corresponding to said computer program,
said sub-graphs corresponding to said groups of instructions.
[0048] In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, (b) comprises
code for counting the number of independent, substantially identical
sub-graphs of a given type.
[0049] In still another embodiment of the fourth aspect, in (c)
said minimum number of cycles in which scheduling may be completed
on said processor is calculated based on the number of independent,
substantially identical sub-graphs of a given type counted in (b),
and based on maximum usage of operational performance characteristics
of said processor.
[0050] In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, the computer
readable program code further comprises code for assigning sub-graphs
of a given type a count number, beginning with 0, and calculating
said suitable starting cycle location for each said sub-graph dependent
upon the following function: [0051] ceil((this sub-graph's count
number)*(II)/(total number of sub-graphs of this type));
[0052] where "ceil(n)" rounds the value `n` up to the
nearest integer, and II is the likely minimum number of cycles in
which scheduling may be completed on said processor in said looped
schedule, as calculated in (d).
[0053] In still another embodiment of the fourth aspect, said code
for calculating said starting cycle location for each said sub-graph
is configured to calculate a sum of said ceil(n) function and an
original starting cycle.
[0054] The foregoing and other aspects of the invention will be
apparent from the following more particular descriptions of exemplary
embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0055] In the figures which illustrate exemplary embodiments of
the invention:
[0056] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a generic data processing
system which may provide an operating environment for exemplary
embodiments of the invention.
[0057] FIG. 2A is an illustrative example of a looped computer
program.
[0058] FIG. 2B is a DDG or data dependency graph corresponding
to the looped computer program of FIG. 2A.
[0059] FIG. 3 is an illustrative example of pseudo-code which may
be used for identifying substantially identical, independent machine
instructions within the looped computer program of FIG. 2.
[0060] FIG. 4A is an illustrative example of scheduling based on
a known scheduling algorithm.
[0061] FIG. 4B is a schedule corresponding to the scheduling in
FIG. 4A.
[0062] FIG. 5A is an illustrative example of scheduling based on
an exemplary embodiment of present invention.
[0063] FIG. 5B is a schedule corresponding to the scheduling in
FIG. 5A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0064] Referring to FIG. 1, shown is an exemplary data processing
system 100 that may provide an operating environment for exemplary
embodiments of the invention. The data processing system 100 may
include a central processing unit ("CPU") 102 connected
to a storage unit 104 and to a random access memory ("RAM")
106. A user 107 may interact with the data processing system 100
using a video display 108, and various inputs such as a keyboard
110 and mouse 112. The data processing system 100 of FIG. 1 is merely
illustrative, and is not meant to be limiting in terms of the type
of system that may provide a suitable operating environment for
the invention.
[0065] FIG. 2A is an illustrative example of a looped computer
program 200 which may execute, for example, on the CPU 102 of FIG.
1. In an embodiment, the user 107 (FIG. 1) may interact with a software
process 160 configured in accordance with an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention which may execute on CPU 102 (FIG. 1).
The software process may be configured to compile the looped computer
program 200 and schedule the instructions of the looped computer
program 200 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0066] As shown, the looped computer program 200 may include a
plurality of instructions, labeled at the left with assigned node
numbers 1-19. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, these
node numbers may be used to represent each instruction as a node,
and dependencies and cycle delays between the nodes may be shown
in a DDG, such as that shown in FIG. 2B.
[0067] In FIG. 2B, it is shown that the looped computer program
200 includes a number of sub-graphs 210-240 of a first type. Each
of the sub-graphs 210-240 includes two "LOAD" instructions,
followed by an "FMA" (combined floating point multiply
and add) instruction, and a "STORE" instruction. For example,
referring to sub-graph 210, first and second LOAD instructions (nodes
1 and 2) are dependant upon an "FMA" instruction (node
3), as shown by the directional arrows, and the FMA instruction,
in turn, is dependant upon a STORE instruction (node 4).
[0068] A "delay" and "distance" between nodes
is shown adjacent each edge in bracket notation. For example, the
edge between node 1 and node 3 has a notation "(4,0)"
indicating a "delay" of 4 cycles, and a "distance"
of 0. (In the present discussion, the term "delay" is
used to describe a minimum number of cycles before another instruction
may be executed. The delay may be caused by a number of factors,
such as limited machine resources, and logical order of operation
limitations. Also, the term "distance" is used to indicate
the number of iterations that a dependence edge crosses. Thus, for
example, if there is a dependence from node "i" to node
"j" in the same iteration of a loop, the distance is zero.
On the other hand, if there is a dependence from node "i"
to node "j" in the next iteration of the loop, then the
distance of that edge is one. Also, if there is a dependence from
a node "i" onto itself in the next iteration of the loop,
the distance is again one.)
[0069] Continuing with the example, the edge between node 2 and
node 3 has the same delay and distance, as does the edge between
node 3 and node 4. Node 3, on the other hand, has a delay onto itself
with a notation "(4,1)" indicating a delay of 4 cycles
and a distance of 1. Thus, there must be at least 4 cycles before
node 3 can be scheduled again, and node 3 cannot be scheduled again
in the current iteration of the loop.
[0070] Assuming that dependencies between the used base registers
for LOAD/STORE instructions and the ADD instructions that update
them can be ignored for scheduling purposes, there are four independent
sub-graphs 210-240 having a substantially identical structure (the
dependencies between updates and uses of base registers can be ignored
on certain hardware platforms if the LOAD and STORE instructions
form addresses by adding the base register to an immediate operand,
allowing these instructions to be rewritten if they are reordered
with an instruction that updates their base register by a known
amount).
[0071] In addition to the sub-graphs 210-240, there are a number
of smaller sub-graphs 250-270, each including a single "ADD"
instruction. As shown in FIG. 2B, each of these sub-graphs 250-270
has a delay onto itself, notated as "(4,1)". Thus, there
must be a delay of at least 4 cycles before each of these nodes
can be scheduled again. Also, it is apparent that sub-graphs 250-270
are substantially identical in structure.
[0072] For the purposes of the present illustrative example, the
four larger sub-graphs 210-240 may be assigned count numbers of
#0, #1, #2, and #3, respectively, of a sub-graph "type 1".
Also, the three small sub-graphs 250-270 may be assigned count numbers
#0, #1, and #2 of a sub-graph "type 2".
[0073] In an embodiment, the sub-graphs 210-270 in the looped computer
program 200 may be located using any one of a number of known sub-graph
identification techniques. For example, FIG. 3 shows pseudo-code
300, as detailed in lines 301-323, which may be used for this purpose.
(In an embodiment, such code may be embodied in a system module.)
[0074] Once all independent sub-graphs have been identified (for
example by using the pseudo-code 300 of FIG. 3), additional information
is needed to determine if some of these sub-graphs are substantially
identical. It may often be the case that there will be identical
sub-graphs as a result of unrolling a loop of a computer program,
where no dependencies between the unrolled iterations exist. However,
there can also be multiple sub-graphs if there are multiple independent
computations being performed within an iteration of the loop. In
this latter case, the independent sub-graphs may or may not be substantially
identical.
[0075] There may be cases where a loop of a computer program has
two or more independent computations that contain different sequences
of instructions and, after unrolling and mapping into a DDG, there
may be two or more groups of substantially identical, independent
sub-graphs. For example, in the present illustrative example, sub-graphs
210-240 are of a first "type", and sub-graphs 250-270
are of a second "type". In an embodiment, a heuristic
can be used to determine if the identified sub-graphs are identical.
For example, such a heuristic may look at the sub-graph length (i.e.
the difference in maximum and minimum height of all of the nodes
in one sub-graph) and/or the number of instructions in a sub-graph.
[0076] Once the independent sub-graphs have been identified using
a suitable heuristic, and it has been determined that at least some
of the sub-graphs are substantially identical sub-graphs, scheduling
of instructions from such sub-graphs may begin.
[0077] In an embodiment, a counter may be used for each group of
sub-graphs so that it is known how many of a specific type of sub-graph
need to have their first "node" scheduled. (In an embodiment,
such a counter may be embodied in a system module.) Then, a suitable
heuristic may be used to determine the cycle to start attempting
to place the first node of each sub-graph. (An example of such a
heuristic is discussed further below.) When the first node of a
sub-graph of a first type is ready to be scheduled, the starting
cycle for scheduling the instructions from that sub-graph can be
calculated as follows: Starting Cycle=starting cycle using original
heuristic+ceil((this sub-graph's count number)*(II)/(total number
of sub-graphs of this type)) [1]
[0078] where the function "ceil(n)" rounds the value
`n` up to the nearest integer, and II is the initiation interval
(In an embodiment, the above function may be embodied as part of
a system module.)
[0079] Referring back to FIGS. 2A and 2B, as mentioned, there are
four independent, substantially identical sub-graphs of a first
type (sub-graphs 210-240) that consist of two LOADs feeding one
FMA feeding one STORE. There are also three independent, substantially
identical sub-graphs of a second type (sub-graphs 250-270) consisting
of one ADD instruction each.
[0080] For the purposes of the present illustrative example, it
has been assumed that the latency between all dependent instructions
in the DDG chains is 4 cycles, from issue time to issue time. (In
other words, once one instruction of a sub-graph has been scheduled
in a particular cycle, the next instruction cannot be scheduled
less than 4 cycles from that particular cycle.) Now, consider a
hypothetical processor or CPU of a data processing system (e.g.
CPU 102 of FIG. 1) that can issue four instructions per cycle for
execution; execute two LOAD/STORE instructions per cycle (such as
LOAD and STORE); and execute two arithmetic instructions per cycle
(such as FMA and ADD). The "Minimum II", or the theoretical
minimum number of cycles a loop can be executed, may then be calculated
as follows: Minimum II=max (RecII, ResII) [2]
[0081] where RecII (or "Recurrence II")=the Minimum II
due to the presence of recurrences in the DDG; and [0082] ResII
(or "Resource II")=the Minimum II due to the maximum usage
of data processing system resources (In an embodiment, this calculation
may be embodied in a system module.) Here, the RecII is found by
finding the longest cycle of dependence edges. The ResII is found
by finding the highest usage of a processor resource for the given
set of instructions in the loop. Typical processor resources include
execution units such as load/store or arithmetic units, or units
that issue instructions each cycle. The exemplary machine we use
has the capacity to issue 4 instructions per cycle, and execute
2 load/store instructions and 2 arithmetic instructions.
[0083] In the present illustrative example, as seen from FIG. 2B,
the longest cycle of dependence edges is 4 cycles. Thus RecII=4
cycles.
[0084] The ResII can be determined from the following calculations:
Issue unit usage=19 instructions/4 instructions per cycle=4.75 cycles
[3]Load/store unit usage=12 instructions/2 instructions per cycle=6
cycles [4]Arithmetic unit usage=7 instructions/2 instructions per
cycle=3.5 cycles [5] It can be calculated that ResII=6 cycles. Thus,
Minimum II=max (4,6)=6 cycles, and the theoretical minimum number
of cycles this loop can be executed in is 6. This also requires
the assumption that the closing branch of the loop is executed without
cost, which is often true on certain modem hardware architectures.
[0085] Using the SMS technique introduced earlier, an SMS ordering
phase could then generate a prioritized ordering of the nodes such
as the following: 4, 3, 1, 2, 8, 7, 5, 6, 12, 11, 9, 10, 16, 15,
13, 14, 17, 18, 19. (As will be apparent, this prioritized ordering
reflects a "backward" ordering of the nodes in sub-graph
210 (FIG. 2B), followed by a backward ordering of the nodes in each
of the sub-graphs 220-240, followed by the nodes in each of the
sub-graphs 250-270. In the ordering of sub-graph 210, as nodes 1
and 2 have the same distance from node 3, it will be appreciated
that their ordering is interchangeable and arbitrary.) A scheduler
could then produce a schedule, such as is shown in FIG. 4A (discussed
below). Because this is modulo scheduling, instructions may be wrapped
around the schedule so that cycles greater than 6 use machine resources
in the cycle % 6 (where % is the modulo operator).
[0086] The possible advantages offered by the scheduling technique
taught by the present invention may be seen more clearly in the
following illustrative example.
EXAMPLE
[0087] Consider the illustrative scheduling process 400A in FIG.
4A. By way of example, this scheduling process 400A may be generated
by using the SMS technique introduced above to schedule the looped
computer program 200 of FIG. 2. As shown, the scheduling process
400A may comprise a plurality of "scheduler actions",
labeled by reference numerals 401-415. Corresponding actual (i.e.
physical) "machine usage" is shown to the right of each
"scheduler action" 401-415.
[0088] More specifically, "machine usage" may be explained
as follows. Consider a microprocessor having different resources
available for use in each clock cycle. Typical types of resources
available may include, for example, "issue" units, "arithmetic
execution" units, and "load/store" units. If a loop
contains certain instructions, then the number of resources required
for executing the loop can be calculated. Then, for each resource
available, the minimum execution time of the loop can be calculated
by: min_time=(resources required by the loop)/(units of that resource
available per cycle).
[0089] Results of each scheduler action 401-415 are shown in a
corresponding schedule or "modulo reservations table"
400B, in FIG. 4B. For example, for scheduler action 401, "put
node 4 in cycle 8", node 4 is placed accordingly, next to "cycle
8" in the modulo reservation table 400B. Since node 4 is the
first node to be placed, some heuristic is needed to select a starting
cycle. For example, the starting cycle may be selected based on
the "earliest time" of node 4, as would be calculated
in the paper by Llosa et al. (discussed above). This heuristic would
also find the same starting cycle for nodes 8, 12, and 16, since
they have the same earliest time property due to their similar relative
position in their respective sub-graphs. The other instructions
are placed relative to their previously scheduled predecessors and
successors, such that all latencies of dependences are respected.
In this example (in consequence of the ordering phase previously
described), all of the nodes following starter nodes only have previously
scheduled successors, so the scheduler actions are performed in
the backward direction. Each of the scheduler actions 402-414, in
turn, involve placing the next node in the ordering into their respective,
specified cycles in the modulo reservations table 400B.
[0090] However, for action 415 of FIG. 4A, it is seen that the
SMS technique has failed to schedule node 13. This is because: cycle
1 is full due to LOAD/STORE usage by nodes 9 and 10; cycle 0 is
full due to LOAD/STORE usage by nodes 1 and 2; and cycle -1 is full
due to LOAD/STORE usage by nodes 5 and 6. Cycles earlier than -1
are more than one iteration away from node 15, so in order to place
node 13 there, the value in the register "r1000" would
have to live for more than one iteration (this is not possible unless
the hardware architecture has rotating registers or extra register
copy instructions can be generated and placed in the schedule).
Thus, the original SMS technique fails to schedule all of the instructions
in 6 cycles.
[0091] In comparison, referring to FIG. 5A, now consider the scheduling
process 500A using an improved scheduling technique in accordance
with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. As shown,
the plurality of scheduler actions 501-519 has successfully generated
a schedule in 6 cycles for this loop.
[0092] More particularly, node 4 is the first node in sub-graph
#0 of type 1 (i.e. sub-graph 210 of FIG. 2). Using the Starting
Cycle Function [1] as described above, node 4 is then calculated
to be placed at "cycle 8+ceil ((0)*(6)/4)=8". Therefore,
for scheduler action 501, "put node 4 in cycle 8", node
4 is placed next to "cycle 8" in the modulo reservation
table 500B in FIG. 5B. Similarly, node 8 is calculated to be placed
at "cycle 8+ceil((1)*(6)/4)=10", so scheduler action 505
is "put node 8 in cycle 10". Similar interval calculations
may be done, using the Starting Cycle Function [1], for each of
the scheduler actions 509, 513, 517, 518, and 519, respectively.
[0093] Once all of the starting nodes have been scheduled, the
remaining nodes are scheduled using the order derived from the previously
described SMS ordering.
[0094] FIG. 5B shows a completed modulo reservation table 500B,
corresponding to the instructions in the scheduling process 500A,
with all of the instructions 501-519 successfully scheduled in 6
cycles.
[0095] Advantageously, scheduling the instructions using the improved
scheduling technique in accordance with an embodiment of the invention
allows the instructions to be successfully scheduled in 6 cycles,
without having to use rotating registers, or generating register-copy
instructions to prolong the lifetime of any registers. Furthermore,
the instructions from the independent, substantially identical sub-graphs
(i.e. sub-graphs 210-240, and sub-graphs 250-270 of FIG. 2) are
more evenly spaced around the loops of the schedule (as represented
in the modulo reservation table 500B in FIG. 5B) so that register
pressure hot spots are significantly reduced. This is achieved by
staggering the starting nodes.
[0096] The benefits of using the technique taught by the present
invention may best be seen in more complex programs having many
identical independent sub-graphs. However, virtually any software
pipelining technique may benefit by the balanced load achieved by
the present, improved scheduling technique.
[0097] While exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described,
it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes
and modifications may be made.
[0098] Therefore, the scope of the invention is limited only by
the following claims.
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