YAWARA: A meta-level optimizing computer system

This paper proposes a new, autonomous and dynamic optimization framework, called a meta-level computation. In this framework, a meta-level processor acquires the execution profile of a base-level processor, i.e. a conventional von Neumann machine, produces the optimized base-level configuration and performs the reconfiguration. We define the meta-level computation model based on the considerations of hardware versus software reconfiguration, static versus dynamic reconfiguration and homogeneous versus heterogeneous architecture. The model employs a thread-level reconfiguration to realize the autonomous and dynamic optimization on a uniformly structured multiprocessor. As an implementation of the computation model, we propose a software/hardware combined system, called the YAWARA system. The software system realizes both static and dynamic feedback-directed, autonomous optimization. The hardware system consists of thread engines, each of which includes hardware mechanisms for profiling and feedback-directed resource control.