Process isolation for a processor-in-memory ("pim") device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023195375-A1
Application number	US-202117556503-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 20, 2021
Priority date	Dec 20, 2021
Publication date	Jun 22, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Process isolation for a PIM device through exclusive locking includes receiving, from a process, a call requesting ownership of a PIM device. The request includes one or more PIM configuration parameters. The exclusive locking technique also includes granting the process ownership of the PIM device responsive to determining that ownership is available. The PIM device is configured according to the PIM configuration parameters.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus configured for process isolation for a processing-in-memory (“PIM”) device through exclusive locking, the apparatus comprising:
one or more processing cores executing computer program instructions that:
receive, from one of the processes, a call requesting ownership of a PIM device, the request including one or more PIM configuration parameters; and
grant the process ownership of the PIM device, including configuring the PIM device according to the PIM configuration parameters.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing cores also execute computer program instructions that:
receive, from the process, a call to relinquish ownership; and make the PIM device available for ownership.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing cores also execute computer program instructions that:
deny access to the process responsive to determining that ownership is not available.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the processing cores also execute computer program instructions that:
make the PIM device available for ownership responsive to a request to relinquish ownership; again receive, from the process, a call requesting ownership of the PIM device, the request including the PIM configuration parameters; and grant the process ownership of the PIM device.

5 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the processing cores also execute computer program instructions that:
receive, from the process, a request to allocate a PIM aperture for use in issuing PIM instructions to the PIM device; and allocate the PIM aperture only if the process has been granted ownership of the PIM device.

6 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the processing cores also execute computer program instructions that:
provide to a dispatcher of a PIM control engine, identification of the process having ownership of the PIM device, wherein the dispatcher is configured to dispatch PIM instructions to the PIM device only if the PIM instructions are from the process having ownership of the PIM device.

7 . A method of process isolation for a processing-in-memory (“PIM”) device, the method comprising:
receiving, from a process, a call requesting ownership of a PIM device, the request including one or more PIM configuration parameters; and
granting the process ownership of the PIM device responsive to determining that ownership is available, including configuring the PIM device according to the PIM configuration parameters.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
receiving, from the process, a call to relinquish ownership; and making the PIM device available for ownership.

9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
denying access to the process responsive to determining that ownership is not available.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
making the PIM device available for ownership responsive to a request to relinquish ownership; again receiving, from the process, a call requesting ownership of the PIM device, the request including the PIM configuration parameters; and granting the process ownership of the PIM device.

11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving, from the process, a request to allocate a PIM aperture for use in issuing PIM instructions to the PIM device; and allocating the PIM aperture only if the process has been granted ownership of the PIM device.

12 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
providing to a dispatcher of a PIM control engine, identification of the process having ownership of the PIM device, wherein the dispatcher is configured to dispatch PIM instructions to the PIM device only if the PIM instructions are from the process having ownership of the PIM device.

13 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the method is carried out by one of: a driver, a hypervisor, an operating system, and a PIM agent.

14 . An apparatus configured for process isolation for a processing-in-memory (“PIM”) device, the apparatus comprising:
one or more processing cores executing a plurality of a processes, wherein at least one of the processes is configured to carry out:
making a call requesting ownership of a PIM device, the request including one or more PIM configuration parameters; and
receiving a return indicating the PIM device has been configured according to the PIM configuration parameters and that ownership is granted to the process.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the process is further configured to carry out:
executing a kernel of PIM instructions on the PIM device; and
upon completion of the kernel, making a call to relinquish ownership of the PIM device.

16 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein a second process is configured to carry out:
making a call requesting ownership of the PIM device, the request including one or more PIM configuration parameters; and
receiving a return indicating that that the call failed.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the second process is further configured to carry out:
a predetermined period of time after receiving the return indicating that the call failed, retrying the call requesting ownership of the PIM device; and
receiving a return indicating the PIM device has been configured and that ownership is granted to the second process.

18 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the process is further configured to carry out:
making a call requesting an allocation of a PIM aperture for use in issuing PIM instructions to the PIM device; receiving a return indicating the allocation succeeded only if the process has been granted ownership of the PIM device; and issuing PIM instructions using the aperture.

19 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the process is further configured to carry out:
issuing PIM instructions according to an extended ISA (Instruction Set Architecture), where the PIM instructions are dispatched for execution only if the process has ownership of the PIM device.

20 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the call requesting ownership of the PIM device includes a PID (Process Identifier) of the process requesting ownership.

Assignees

• Advanced Micro Devices Inc

Inventors

• Puthoor Sooraj
• Hassaan Muhammad Amber
• Aji Ashwin
• Chu Michael L
• Jayasena Nuwan

Classifications

• G06F3/0679

  Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP] · CPC title

• G06F3/0631

  by allocating resources to storage systems · CPC title

• G06F3/0656

  Data buffering arrangements · CPC title

• G06F3/0659 Primary

  Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling · CPC title

• G06F3/0622

  in relation to access · CPC title