Hierarchical Reconfigurable Computer Architecture
First Claim
1. A reconfigurable hierarchical computer architecture having N levels, where N is an integer value greater than one, wherein said N levels comprise:
- a first level comprising a first computation block comprising a first data input, a first data output and a plurality of computing nodes interconnected by a first connecting means, each computing node comprising;
an input port;
a functional unit; and
an output port;
the first connecting means capable of connecting each output port to the input port of each other computing node; and
a second level comprising a second computation block comprising;
a second data input;
a second data output; and
a plurality of said first computation blocks interconnected by a second connecting means for connecting a selected one of said first data output of each of said first computation blocks and said second data input to each of said first data inputs and for connecting a selected one of said first data outputs to said second data output.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reconfigurable hierarchical computer architecture having N levels, where N is an integer value greater than one, wherein said N levels include a first level including a first computation block including a first data input, a first data output and a plurality of computing nodes interconnected by a first connecting mechanism, each computing node including an input port, a functional unit and an output port, the first connecting mechanism capable of connecting each output port to the input port of each other computing node; and a second level including a second computation block including a second data input, a second data output and a plurality of the first computation blocks interconnected by a second connecting means for selectively connecting the first data output of each of the first computation blocks and the second data input to each of the first data inputs and for selectively connecting each of the first data outputs to the second data output.
59 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A reconfigurable hierarchical computer architecture having N levels, where N is an integer value greater than one, wherein said N levels comprise:
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a first level comprising a first computation block comprising a first data input, a first data output and a plurality of computing nodes interconnected by a first connecting means, each computing node comprising; an input port; a functional unit; and an output port; the first connecting means capable of connecting each output port to the input port of each other computing node; and a second level comprising a second computation block comprising; a second data input; a second data output; and a plurality of said first computation blocks interconnected by a second connecting means for connecting a selected one of said first data output of each of said first computation blocks and said second data input to each of said first data inputs and for connecting a selected one of said first data outputs to said second data output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A portable media device comprising at least one reconfigurable hierarchical computer architecture having N levels, where N is an integer value greater than one, wherein said N levels comprise:
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a first level comprising a first computation block comprising a first data input, a first data output and a plurality of computing nodes interconnected by a first connecting means, each computing node comprising; an input port; a functional unit; and an output port; the first connecting means capable of connecting each output port to the input port of each other computing node; and
a second level comprising a second computation block comprising;a second data input; a second data output; and a plurality of said first computation blocks interconnected by a second connecting means for connecting a selected one of said first data output of each of said first computation blocks and said second data input to each of said first data inputs and for connecting a selected one of said first data outputs to said second data output.
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16. A method of mapping a required task onto the physical resources of a reconfigurable hierarchical computer architecture having N levels, where N is an integer value greater than one, a first level comprising a cluster comprising a plurality of interconnected computing nodes each comprising a functional unit, and a second level comprising an interconnected plurality of said clusters, said method comprising:
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partitioning said task into subtasks each comprising a plurality of operations; assigning each of said subtasks to one of said clusters; assigning the operations of each subtask to the computing nodes in each cluster; and scheduling the operations in the computing nodes and performing fine routing between computing nodes. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A reconfigurable hierarchical computer architecture having N levels, where N is an integer value greater than one, a first level comprising a cluster comprising a plurality of interconnected computing nodes, a second level comprising an interconnected plurality of said clusters, each computing node comprising:
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a functional unit; an instruction memory; and at least one buffer coupled to a first input port of said computing node. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A portable media device comprising at least one reconfigurable hierarchical computer architecture having N levels, where N is an integer value greater than one, a first level comprising a cluster comprising a plurality of interconnected computing nodes, a second level comprising an interconnected plurality of said clusters, each computing node comprising:
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a functional unit; an instruction memory; and at least one input buffer.
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28. A method of mapping a required task onto the physical resources of a hierarchical reconfigurable computer architecture having N levels, where N is an integer value greater than one, a first level comprising a cluster comprising a plurality of interconnected computing nodes, and a second level comprising a plurality of interconnected clusters, said method comprising:
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determining that a new connection is required between a first computing node in a first cluster and a second computing node in a second cluster; determining whether a connection already exists between a third computing node in said first cluster and said second cluster; and if said connection already exists connecting said first computing node to said second, computing node via said third computing node. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification