Patent Application
20230064969
The present disclosure relates to semiconductor computer chips, and more specifically, to using an anti-starvation reservation mechanic to manage destination processing between processing nodes with token constraints.
Computer chips can include multiple processing nodes capable of performing a plurality of functions. The computer chips can utilize a plurality of buses configured in a circular, or ring, topology to connect multiple processing nodes on a single computer chip. The buses create communication pathways to allow the processing nodes to form a networked system on a single chip.
The processing nodes are devices such as a processor, an input/output (“I/O”) controller, a memory, or a hybrid of devices capable of performing various tasks. A processor can be a central processing unit (“CPU”), a floating-point unit (“FPU”), an I/O controller, and the like. A memory can be in the form of random-access memory (“RAM”), read-only memory (“ROM”), hybrid memory, active memory, and the like. Hybrids can be task-specific, like an application-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”) or task-general.
Embodiments of the present disclosure include a computer chip comprising a data transfer network that provides an anti-starvation reservation mechanic for processing nodes with token constraints. Token constraints dictate that a processing node requires a token to transmit a message to a destination node. The computer chip includes a plurality of processing nodes interconnected in an on-chip data transfer network configured in a circular topology. The processing nodes include a reservation mechanism that manages reservations made by the processing nodes. The reservation mechanism apply a reservation policy when a starvation condition is met on a processing node. The reservation policy separates the processing nodes into partition groups and dictates that a processing node may only send a reservation when their assigned partition group is active. An additional bus is used to increment a global partition counter indicating which partition group is active. Each of the processing nodes also includes a buffer for storing messages that is divided into a pool of tokens and a pool of reservation tokens. The tokens are used for standard message transmission and the reservation tokens are reserved for token reservation requests received at a destination node. The reservation tokens are distributed to processing nodes transmitting token reservation requests while their partition group is active.
Additional embodiments include a computer-implemented method of managing reservation between processing nodes with token constraints. The computer-implemented method includes assigning processing nodes to partition groups. A processing node of the processing nodes is assigned as the partition master that is assigned to increment a partition counter. The computer-implemented method also includes setting an active partition group of the partition groups by analyzing the partition counter. The active partition group is eligible to transmit token reservation requests based on a reservation policy and a processing node may only send one token reservation request during the active phase of their partition group. The computer-implemented method further includes receiving, by the partition master, a signal on the partition bus indicating an expiration of a time window for the active partition group, transmitting, by the partition master, an end signal to the processing nodes. The computer-implemented method also includes propagating, by each processing node of the processing nodes, the end signal when a token reservation pool is full, and receiving, by the partition master, the propagated end signal indicating a transition to a next active partition group. The present summary is not intended to illustrate each aspect of, every implementation of, and/or every embodiment of the present disclosure.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the embodiments of the disclosure will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
While the present disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure. Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in the accompanying drawings.
The present disclosure relates to semiconductor computer chips, and more specifically, to using an anti-starvation reservation mechanic to manage destination processing between processing nodes with token constraints. While the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to such applications, various aspects of the disclosure may be appreciated through a discussion of various examples using this context.
Computer Systems have traditionally comprised a system unit or housing, which include a plurality of electrical components comprising the computer system. A computer system typically includes a motherboard that is configured to hold the microprocessor and memory and the one or more busses used in the computer system. The motherboard typically comprises a plurality of computer chips or electrical components, including intelligent peripheral devices, bus controllers, processors, bus bridges, etc.
More recently, computer systems are evolving toward the integration of functions into a handful of computer chips. This coincides with the ability of chipmakers to place an increasingly large number of transistors on a single chip. For example, chip manufacturers can currently place up to ten million transistors on a single integrated circuit or monolithic substrate. It is anticipated that chip makers will be able to place one billion transistors on a single chip within several years. Thus, computer systems are evolving toward comprising a handful of computer chips, where each computer chip includes a plurality of functions. Integrating a plurality of modules or functions on a single computer chip requires an improved data transfer chip architecture. Also, due to the shorter distances and tighter integration of components on a chip, new data transfer architectures and techniques are necessary to take advantage of this environment.
A network on a chip, or network-on-chip (“NoC”), is a network-based communications subsystem on an integrated circuit between modules, or processing nodes, in a system on a chip. NoCs can span synchronous and asynchronous clock domains, known as clock domain crossing, or use unlocked asynchronous logic. NoCs can also support globally asynchronous, locally synchronous electronics architectures, allowing each processor core or functional unit on the system-on-chip to have its clock domain.
The topology of the NoCs can determine the physical layout and connections between nodes and channels. The topology also dictates the number of hops a message travels and a hop's channel length. For example, a ring topology with four nodes. Since the topology determines the number of paths between nodes, it can affect the network's traffic distribution and potential conflicts when nodes transmit messages.
However, limitations remain on networked processing nodes configured with token constraints in a circular topology network. These networks include token constraints that manage destination conflicts. Token constraints dictate that a processing node must consume a token to transmit a message to a destination node since tokens represent available buffer slots of the destination node. There is the potential of processing nodes becoming starved if upstream processing nodes consume a destination processing node's tokens before the tokens are able to propagate to a starved processing node. Additionally, reservations made by a starved processing node do not guarantee that the destination processing node will have buffer space in time to receive the message. Thus, processing nodes attempting to transmit messages to a destination processing node may be prevented or starved indefinitely if reservations are not managed appropriately.
Embodiments of the present disclosure may overcome the above, and other problems, by applying a reservation policy to nodes with token constraints. The nodes can be in a circular topology interconnected and coupled together by a bus. Each of the nodes includes a buffer for storing messages that is divided into a pool of tokens and a pool of reservation tokens. The tokens are used for standard message transmission and the reservation tokens are reserved for token reservation requests received at a destination node. The nodes also employ a reservation mechanism that enforces a reservation policy on each node. The reservation policy separates the processing nodes into partition groups and dictates that a processing node may only send a reservation when their assigned partition group is active. The policy also restricts the size of a partition group such that the number of nodes in a partition group is less than or equal to the number of reservation tokens on a node.
More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure can manage node starvation by applying a reservation policy on reservation requests made by the processing nodes with token constraints. Since a node can only send data to a particular destination by consuming a token from the destination, the node must assert a reservation if it is unable to consume a token. The reservation policy placed on the processing nodes are based on the partition groups of those nodes. An additional partition bus is introduced that increments a partition counter internal to each processing node in the network. A window is created when the partition counter corresponds to a partition group number indicating the partition group is active. The nodes in that partition group are eligible to transmit token reservations while their partition group is active. The reservation policy also prevents nodes from transmitting more than one token reservation during the window of time. As such, the disclosure provides an anti-starvation reservation policy that prevents node starvation of processing nodes by restricting the use of reservation token requests to times when a processing node's partition group is active.
In some embodiments, a processing node within the network is assigned as a partition master. The designated partition master is configured to increment the partition. The partition master can drive the bus maintaining global partition counter. When the partition signal returns to the partition master, it can signal to the partition bus indicating that the global partition counter is to be incremented and that another partition group is set as active. Each processing node in a partition group is given an opportunity to transmit a token reservation request while the time window is active before the partition master increments the partition counter again.
The processing nodes 110 are components of the computer chip 100 configured to perform operations. The processing nodes 110 can include, for example, a processor, an I/O controller, memory, or a hybrid of tasks (e.g., task-specific hybrid (ASIC) or task-general hybrid). A processor can be a CPU, FPU, or an I/O controller in various possible forms. A memory can be a RAM, ROM, hybrid memory, or active memory in any variety of possible forms. Hybrids can be task-specific, like an ASIC or task general. The processing nodes 110 also include buffers to store data transmitted by other processing nodes 110. The buffers are divided into buffer slots that are capable of storing the messages. Tokens are used to represent the number of buffer slots in the buffer. The totality of tokens a processing node 110 are divided into a token pool 114 and reservation token pool 114. The token pools 114 are utilized for standard message transmission between processing nodes 110. The reservation token pools 114 are utilized when the token pool 114 of a processing node 110 is exhausted and when a reservation request is received from another processing node 110.
The processing nodes 110 provide access control to their buffers via the tokens. The processing nodes 110 can transmit their available tokens onto the token bus 140 to inform other processing nodes 110 of the space available in their respective buffers. When another processing node 110 has a message to send, it can seize a token and send a message. The processing node 110 that seizes a token can change the bit on the token bus 140 representing the token to ‘0’ to indicate that the token has been consumed. When a processing node 110 is unable to consume a token within a bounded amount of time, the processing node 110 can transmit a token reservation request to a destination node 110 requesting a buffer slot.
The processing nodes 110 are further configured to transmit token reservation requests to a destination processing node 110 when no token is from the destination processing node 110. When the destination processing node 110 receives a reservation request, it can transmit a reservation token stored in the reservation token pool 114 back to the source processing node 110. A reservation token is guaranteed because a reservation policy dictates that a partition group size must be less than or equal to the number of reservation tokens stored by a processing node 110. Once the reservation token is received, the source processing node 110 can transmit the message.
For example, the processing node 110A has depleted its tokens allocated in its token pool 112A. Processing node 110B wants to send a message to processing node 110A, but no token is present on the token bus. In order to send the message, the processing node 110B transmits a token reservation request to the processing node 110A. Upon receiving the token reservation request, the processing node 110A transmits a reservation token from its reservation token pool 114A. The processing node 110B can use the reservation token to then transmit its message to processing node 110A.
The processing nodes 110 are organized into different partition groupings. The number of partition groups can be predetermined upon the configuration of the network and can be based on the number of processing nodes 110 in the network. For example, a network of eight processing nodes 110 can be configured to have four partition groupings with two processing nodes 110 assigned per partition group. It should be noted that any number of partition groupings can be used and is not limited by the previous example.
Additionally, the number of processing nodes 110 in each group can be less than or equal to the number of reservation tokens in the reservation pool 114 of a processing node 110. For example, if a processing node 110 has two reservation tokens in its token reservation pool 114, then each partition grouping size would consist of two processing nodes 110.
The processing nodes 110 are further configured to maintain a partition counter 116. The partition counter 116 can be set by the partition bus 150. The partition counter 116 is used as an indicator to the processing nodes 110, indicating which partition grouping is permitted to request a reservation token from another processing node 110. For example, when the partition counter 116 is at ‘2’, then the processing nodes 110 in partition group ‘2’ are permitted to request reservation tokens. Additionally, the partition counter 116 can be considered a global counter within the network, where all of the processing nodes 110 in the network maintain the same count in their internal partition counters 116.
A processing node 110 within the network can be assigned as a partition master. The designated partition master is configured to increment the partition counter using the partition bus 150. The partition master can drive a partition signal as ‘1’ on the partition bus 150 that propagates around the network ring. When the partition signal reaches a processing node 110, and the token reservation pool 114 of that processing node 110 is full, then that processing node 110 can continue to propagate the partition signal as ‘1’. However, if the processing node 110 with the partition signal does not have a full token reservation pool 114, then that processing node 110 keeps the partition signal low to interrupt the signal until its token reservation pool becomes refilled. The partition signal does not propagate back to the partition master until all token reservation pools 114 are full. In order to prevent additional starvation scenarios, reservation requests are halted one lap number of cycles prior to the partition master signaling an increment to the partition counter.
When the partition signal returns to the partition master, it can drive the partition signal to ‘0’, presenting a negative edge that can be used as an indicator to the other processing nodes 110 in the network to increment their partition counters. When a negative edge is presented to the subsequent processing node 110, their partition counter is incremented until all counters are incremented.
The communications bus 130, the token bus 140, and the end partition bus 150 are components of the computer chip 100 configured to form part of a data transfer network utilizing multiple circular topologies for interconnecting the plurality of processing nodes 110A-110F on the computer chip 100 in an on-chip network. The communications bus 130 is further configured to provide an electrical path for data communications between the plurality of processing nodes 110 comprised on the computer chip 100. It is noted that although the embodiment of
The communication bus 130, the token bus 140, and the end partition bus 150 may be unidirectional, that is, only transmitting data in one direction. The buses 130 and 140 may also be configured to transfer data in two directions. The buses 130, 140, and 150 can also include addressing and control lines in addition to data lines. Other special function lines may also be included in buses 130, 140, and 150 as desired. When a processing node 110 transmits a token reservation, the reservation forces a slot, or “bubble”, onto the communications bus 130 such that when the slot gets back to the processing node 110 that made the reservation request, that processing node 110 can then transmit a message in that slot.
In the embodiment of
It is noted that
In this exemplary implementation 200, each processing node 110 is a token node. However, it should be noted that networks can include processing nodes 110 that do not utilize token reservations and that have other configurations for handling messages. In the example, and for illustrative purposes only, processing node 110A is the partition master and is assigned to drive a partition signal onto the end partition bus 150. Additionally, processing nodes 110A and 110B are assigned to partition group ‘0’, processing nodes 110C and 110D are assigned to partition group ‘1’, and processing nodes 110E and 110F are assigned to partition group ‘2’.
Additionally, in this exemplary implementation, the rows of table 210 includes a cycle indicating a cycle count, a token row indicating a token signal being transmitted by processing node 110F, a communications bus indicating which processing node 110 is consuming a token to transmit a message, a token reservation request signal indicating the processing nodes 110 that transmit a token reservation, and a partition counter indicating the partition count the processing nodes 110 are in. It should also be noted that while token row is illustrated from the perspective of processing node 110F, the communication bus row indicates which processing node 110 will eventually consume the token in the same column. Additionally, the reservation cycle is taken from the perspective of processing node 110C.
On cycle 1, node 110A consumes a token from processing node 110F in order to transmit a message to processing node 110F. By consuming the token, processing node 110A is assured a buffer slot for the message it is transmitting. This process is repeated on cycles 2, 3, 5, and 9. Since processing node 110A has been consuming all of the tokens distributed by processing node 110F, processing node 110C is unable to consume a token to transmit a message to processing node 110F.
On cycle 10, processing node 110C transmits a token reservation to processing node 110F. It was unable to consume a token but still requires transmission of a message to processing node 110F. Processing node 110C is able to transmit a token reservation because the partition count is at ‘1’ and processing node 110C is in partition group ‘1’. The time window when a processing node's 110 partition group matches the current partition count allows the processing node 110 to transmit a token reservation if needed. The processing node 110C, however, will not be able to transmit another token reservation request in this time window. The processing node 110C will have to wait until the time window cycles back around, and the partition count is set at ‘1’ again.
On cycle 13, the processing node 110F receives the token reservation, it can transmit a reservation token from its reservation pool 114 on the token bus 140. On cycle 16, node 110C consumes the reservation token in order to transmit its message to processing node 110F. By consuming the token, processing node 110C is assured of a buffer slot reserved by the reservation token.
A processing node assigned as a partition master sets a partition counter via a partition bus. The partition counter indicates an active partition group. This is illustrated at step 320. A window is created when the partition counter corresponds to a partition group number indicating the partition group is active. A reservation policy dictates that nodes in an active partition group are eligible to transmit token reservations requests to destination processing nodes. The reservation policy also prevents nodes from transmitting more than one token reservation request during the time window. Token reservation requests are made when a processing node is to consume a token within a bounded amount of time, whereby a starvation condition is met. Additionally, a reservation token is guaranteed because the reservation policy also dictates that a partition group size must be less than or equal to the number of reservation tokens stored by a processing node.
The time window expires when the partition signal returns to the partition master. This is illustrated at step 330. If the partition master has not received the signal, then the active partition group is still eligible to transmit token reservation requests. However, if the partition signal has returned to the partition master, then the processing nodes in the active group are halted from requesting token reservations. In order to prevent additional starvation scenarios, reservation requests are halted one lap number of cycles prior to the partition master signaling an increment to the partition counter.
The partition master asserts and end signal on the partition bus. This is illustrated at step 340. When the partition signal reaches a processing node 110, and the token reservation pool 114 of that processing node 110 is full, then that processing node 110 can continue to propagate the partition signal. This is illustrated at step 350. However, if the processing node 110 with the partition signal does not have a full token reservation pool 114, then that processing node 110 keeps the partition signal low to interrupt the signal until its token reservation pool becomes refilled. The partition signal does not propagate back to the partition master until all token reservation pools 114 are full.
When the partition signal returns to the partition master, it can drive the partition signal to ‘0’, presenting a negative edge. This is illustrated at step 360. The negative edge can be used as an indicator to the other processing nodes in the network to increment their partition counters. When a negative edge is presented to the subsequent processing node 110, their partition counter is incremented until all counters in the network are incremented. Once incremented, the process 300 proceeds to the next active partition group.
Referring now to
The computer system 400 may contain one or more general-purpose programmable central processing units (CPUs) 402-1, 402-2, 402-3, and 402-N, herein generically referred to as the processor 402. In some embodiments, the computer system 400 may contain multiple processors typical of a relatively large system; however, in other embodiments, the computer system 400 may alternatively be a single CPU system. Each processor 402 may execute instructions stored in the memory 404 and may include one or more levels of onboard cache.
The memory 404 may include computer system readable media in the form of volatile memory, such as random-access memory (RAM) 422 or cache memory 424. Computer system 400 may further include other removable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storage media. By way of example only, storage system 426 can be provided for reading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media, such as a “hard drive.” Although not shown, a magnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable, non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), or an optical disk drive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile optical disc such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided. In addition, the memory 404 can include flash memory, e.g., a flash memory stick drive or a flash drive. Memory devices can be connected to memory bus 403 by one or more data media interfaces. The memory 404 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g., at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out the functions of various embodiments.
Although the memory bus 403 is shown in
In some embodiments, the computer system 400 may be a multi-user mainframe computer system, a single-user system, or a server computer or similar device that has little or no direct user interface but receives requests from other computer systems (clients). Further, in some embodiments, the computer system 400 may be implemented as a desktop computer, portable computer, laptop or notebook computer, tablet computer, pocket computer, telephone, smartphone, network switches or routers, or any other appropriate type of electronic device.
It is noted that
One or more programs/utilities 428, each having at least one set of program modules 430 (e.g., the computer chip 100), may be stored in memory 404. The programs/utilities 428 may include a hypervisor (also referred to as a virtual machine monitor), one or more operating systems, one or more application programs, other program modules, and program data. Each of the operating systems, one or more application programs, other program modules, and program data or some combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networking environment. Programs 428 and/or program modules 430 generally perform the functions or methodologies of various embodiments.
The present disclosure may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product at any possible technical detail level of integration. The computer program product may include a computer-readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present disclosure.
The computer-readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer-readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer-readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.
Computer-readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer-readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device.
Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present disclosure may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a standalone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present disclosure.
Aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the disclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions.
These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be accomplished as one step, executed concurrently, substantially concurrently, in a partially or wholly temporally overlapping manner, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the various embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes” and/or “including,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. In the previous detailed description of example embodiments of the various embodiments, reference was made to the accompanying drawings (where like numbers represent like elements), which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific example embodiments in which the various embodiments may be practiced. These embodiments were described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, but other embodiments may be used and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the various embodiments. In the previous description, numerous specific details were set forth to provide a thorough understanding the various embodiments. But the various embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits, structures, and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure embodiments.
When different reference numbers comprise a common number followed by differing letters (e.g., 100a, 100b, 100c) or punctuation followed by differing numbers (e.g., 100-1, 100-2, or 100.1, 100.2), use of the reference character only without the letter or following numbers (e.g., 100) may refer to the group of elements as a whole, any subset of the group, or an example specimen of the group.
Further, the phrase “at least one of,” when used with a list of items, means different combinations of one or more of the listed items can be used, and only one of each item in the list may be needed. In other words, “at least one of” means any combination of items and number of items may be used from the list, but not all of the items in the list are required. The item can be a particular object, a thing, or a category.
For example, without limitation, “at least one of item A, item B, or item C” may include item A, item A and item B, or item B. This example also may include item A, item B, and item C or item B and item C. Of course, any combinations of these items can be present. In some illustrative examples, “at least one of” can be, for example, without limitation, two of item A; one of item B; and ten of item C; four of item B and seven of item C; or other suitable combinations.
Different instances of the word “embodiment” as used within this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but they may. Any data and data structures illustrated or described herein are examples only, and in other embodiments, different amounts of data, types of data, fields, numbers and types of fields, field names, numbers and types of rows, records, entries, or organizations of data may be used. In addition, any data may be combined with logic, so that a separate data structure may not be necessary. The previous detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.
Although the present disclosure has been described in terms of specific embodiments, it is anticipated that alterations and modification thereof will become apparent to the skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted as covering all such alterations and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure.
The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.
