Research in Multithreaded Dataflow and Hybrid Architectures

本研究的总体目标是研究基于多线程的高效主流计算的体系结构特征。在这方面，本研究将侧重于两个方向；研究了多线程数据流范式，并将结果应用于混合数据流-冯·诺依曼架构。数据流模型非常适合多线程体系结构，因为它促进了指令级上下文切换和细粒度并行性。清楚地了解在数据流环境中支持多线程的问题，将使我们能够使它们适应混合数据流/控制流架构。混合系统在多处理领域提供了最有趣的机会——它们直接解决了未来超标量处理器将面临的问题，比如长内存延迟、上下文切换开销、多个活动指令流、对任务同步的快速高效支持。最初，该项目将研究多线程数据流架构中缓存内存的使用，以及用于改进此类机器性能的编译器技术。这个项目将研究多线程的架构支持，包括线程管理、线程调度、线程间的通信和同步。同时多线程在数据流和混合架构的背景下，然后将进行研究。最后，本项目将探讨与传统RISC技术一起使用的最重要的架构特性的适用性。

The overall objective of the research is the investigation of architectural features for cost-effective, mainstream computing based on multithreading. In this vein, this research will focus in two directions; investigation of multithreaded dataflow paradigm, and the adaptation of the results to hybrid dataflow-von Neumann architecture. The dataflow model is ideally suited for multithreaded architecture since it facilitates instruction level context switching and fine-grained parallelism. A clear understanding of the issues in supporting multiple threads in dataflow environment will permit us to adapt them to hybrid dataflow/control flow architectures. Hybrid systems present the most interesting opportunities in the area of multiprocessing - they directly address problems that will be faced by future superscalar processors, such as long memory latencies, context switching overheads, multiple active instruction streams, fast and efficient support for task synchronization. Initially, this project will investigate the use of cache memories for multihreaded dataflow architecture, and compiler techniques for improving the performance of such machines. This project will then study architectural support for multithreading including support for thread management, thread scheduling, communication and synchronization among threads. Simultaneous multithreading in the context of dataflow and hybrid architectures will then be investigated. Finally, this project will explore the suitability of the most significant architectural features for use with convectional RISC technology.