My attempt to multi-thread an audio talk-though program using batches of data

1. My attempt to multi-thread an audio talk-though program using batches of data M. Smith Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Calgary, Smithmr @ ucalgary.ca

2. Laboratory 5 – Done in “C and C++” • Stage 1 – 30% • Develop and investigate a multi-tasking system where the threads are free-running. Thread tasks are “Sleep(time_task)” • Develop and investigate a multi-tasking system where the threads communicate through semaphores to control order of operation • Stage 2 – 55% • Demonstrate and investigate turning an “audio – talk-through program” into a multi-threaded system – one point processed per interrupt • Stage 3 – 15% • Demonstrate a batch processing system as a multi-threaded system • Options • Use SHARC ADSP-21061 boards (40 MHz) – existing audio-libraries – have not attempted • Use Blackfin ADSP-BF533 boards (600 MHz) – existing audio-libraries – have been successful at home, but not here • Use Blackfin ADSP-BF533 boards (600 MHz) – using very simple, no frills, audio-talk though library – surprising simple with 1 to 32 points being processed. Fails with 33 points. Code logic issue, not a timing issue as I can waste 25000 cycles per block at 32 points

3. Implementing a multi-thread system-- Laboratory 5 – Part B concepts

4. Final ReadThread – Single Point

5. Final ProcessThread – Single Point

6. Final WriteThread – Single Point

7. Read Thread – ISR driven

8. Thread Status History – ISR driven

9. Laboratory 5 – Done in “C and C++” • Stage 1 – 30% • Develop and investigate a multi-tasking system where the threads are free-running. Thread tasks are “Sleep(time_task)” • Develop and investigate a multi-tasking system where the threads communicate through semaphores to control order of operation • Stage 2 – 55% • Demonstrate and investigate turning an “audio – talk-through program” into a multi-threaded system – one point processed per interrupt • Stage 3 – 15% • Demonstrate a batch processing system as a multi-threaded system • Options • Use SHARC ADSP-21061 boards (40 MHz) – existing audio-libraries – have not attempted • Use Blackfin ADSP-BF533 boards (600 MHz) – existing audio-libraries – have been successful at home, but not here • Use Blackfin ADSP-BF533 boards (600 MHz) – using very simple, no frills, audio-talk though library – surprising simple with 1 to 32 points being processed. Fails with 33 points. Code logic issue, not a timing issue as I can waste 25000 cycles per block at 32 points

10. Implementing a multi-thread system-- Laboratory 5 concepts

11. Read – Handling 4 pointsNo-audio intention – just see if it will work test

12. Process – Handling 4 pointsNo-audio intention – just see if it will work test

13. Write – Handling 4 pointsNo-audio intention – just see if it will work test

14. Nett Result Not working as expected – equal priority (5) on each task We are obviously missing samples

15. Changing Priorities Priorities ReadThread 3 -- obviously the most critical ProcessThread 5 WriteThread 5

16. Different Priorities Priorities ReadThread 3 -- obviously the most critical ProcessThread 5 WriteThread 4

17. No idle time available – Optimize the code Priorities ReadThread 3 ProcessThread 5 WriteThread 5 Priorities ReadThread 3 ProcessThread 5 WriteThread 4

18. Implementing a multi-thread system-- Laboratory 5

19. Problem – NOT coding what we intended

20. Proper Code

21. Net Result TOTAL SYSTEM HANG BLOCKED SEMAPHORES

22. Tried a number of things Worked out which semaphore was blocking Different priorities Different TIC times Better – but obviously missing cycles – particularly write

23. Decided to tie WriteThread to interrupt as well as ReadThread

24. Final Test Result Seems to behaving as expected However – when changed MAXIMUM COUNT FOR READ / WRITE ISR Semaphores – status history changes This could indicate that missing some interrupts Could mean nothing – interrupts asynchronous to timer TICs

25. Could handle 800 waste “times” every 32 samples – plenty of time 50000 cycles + Inner loop =2 * BUFFERLENGTHOuter loop = Wastetime * (3 + INNER) Total = 13 + Inner loop BUFFER = 32, waste time = 800 Cycles around 800 * 64 = 50000+ 68K Blackfin SHARC D0 (8) R0 (16) R0 A0 (6) P0 (with a bit of MIPS) (6) I0 (4) I0 (16)

26. Real life test -- small buffers • Absolutely nothing • However • 4 audio connections in • 6 audio connections out • Got the correct connections • Set buffer = 1 – worked first time • Set buffer = 32 – worked first time

27. Larger buffers • BUFFERSIZE – 64 – out of bsz memory error • Fix .LDF file – manually (GUI window works how?) MEMORY { mem_VDK_strt { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFFA00000) END(0xFFA00003) WIDTH(8) } mem_l1_code { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFFA00004) END(0xFFA0FFFF) WIDTH(8) } mem_l1_code_cache { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFFA10000) END(0xFFA13FFF) WIDTH(8) } mem_EVT_all { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFF900000) END(0xFF900003) WIDTH(8) } mem_EVT_NMI { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFF900004) END(0xFF900007) WIDTH(8) } mem_EVT_EVX { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFF900008) END(0xFF90000B) WIDTH(8) } mem_EVT_IRPTEN { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFF90000C) END(0xFF90000F) WIDTH(8) } mem_EVT_IVHW { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFF900010) END(0xFF900013) WIDTH(8) } mem_EVT_IVTMR { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFF900014) END(0xFF900017) WIDTH(8) } mem_EVT_IVG7 { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFF900018) END(0xFF90001B) WIDTH(8) } mem_EVT_IVG8 { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFF90001C) END(0xFF90001F) WIDTH(8) } mem_EVT_IVG9 { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFF900020) END(0xFF900023) WIDTH(8) } mem_EVT_IVG10 { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFF900024) END(0xFF900027) WIDTH(8) } mem_EVT_IVG11 { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFF900028) END(0xFF90002B) WIDTH(8) } mem_EVT_IVG12 { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFF90002C) END(0xFF90002F) WIDTH(8) } mem_EVT_IVG13 { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFF900030) END(0xFF900033) WIDTH(8) } mem_EVT_IVG14 { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFF900034) END(0xFF900037) WIDTH(8) } mem_EVT_IVG15 { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFF900038) END(0xFF90003B) WIDTH(8) } mem_sysstack { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFF90003C) END(0xFF90083B) WIDTH(8) } mem_l1_data_b { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFF90083C) END(0xFF903FFF) WIDTH(8) } mem_l1_data_b_cache { TYPE(RAM) START(0xFF904000) END(0xFF907FFF) WIDTH(8) }

28. Memory issues – on 64 point data batches • Still did not work • Did I change the memory map correctly? • No – seems okay as works with 32 – but perhaps having caching issue • Went back to old memory map • Went to configure external SDRAM and use that • Modified only 1 array – left channel • Left channel fails – right channel works • Spending too much time in context switching • Group ReadThread and WriteThread code together • Does not even work with 32 !!!!!! • Am convinced that there is a logical issue associated with the semaphore handling.

29. Bonus – 20% bonus • If you can get all parts of Lab. 5 running and then solve this issue of why fails at 64 points (even when not wasting cycles) – 20% bonus on this lab. marks and either a mention or a “co-author-ship” on one of the Circuit Cellar articles • May even be worth some money if I manage to sell the articles