Process for automatic dynamic reloading of data flow processors (dfps) and units with two-or-three-dimensional programmable cell architectures (fpgas, dpgas, and the like)

• US 6,477,643 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scientia Sol Mentis AG (PACT XPP Schweiz AG)
• Original Assignee: Pact GmbH
• Inventors: Vorbach, Martin, Münch, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mia, Rijue
• Application Number:
  US09/613,217
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 713/100, 713/1, 713/2, 712/220, 712/223, 712/16, 712/10, 712/15, 307/465, 709/221, 709/222, 714/3, 714/7, 395/500, 710/131
• US Class Current: 713/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/7867 with reconfigurable architecture
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/30 Arrangements for executing machine instructions, e.g. instruction decode for executing microinstructions G06F9/22

Abstract

A method for processing data in a configurable unit having a multidimensional cell arrangement a switching table is provided, the switching table including a controller and a configuration memory. Configuration strings are transmitted from the switching table to a configurable element of the unit to establish a valid configuration. A configurable element writes data into the configuration memory. The controller of the switching table recognizes individual records as commands and may execute the recognized commands. The controller may also recognize and differentiate between events and execute a action in response thereto. In response to an event, the controller may move the position of a pointer, and if it has received configuration data rather than commands for the controller, sends the configuration data to the configurable element defined in the configuration data. The controller may send a feedback message to the configurable element. The configurable element may recognize and analyze the feedback message. An configurable element may transmit data into the configuration memory of the switching table.

Claims

1. Process for dynamically reconfiguring configurable units with a two- or multidimensional cell arrangement (e.g., FPGAS, DPGAs, DFPS, or the like), characterized in thatthere are one or more switching tables, comprising one or more controllers and one or more configuration memories on the unit or connected thereto;

2. configuration strings are transmitted from a switching table to a configurable element or a plurality of configurable elements of the unit, which establish a valid configuration;

3. the PLU or the configurable element of the unit or units can write data into the configuration memory or memories of the switching table(s);

4. the controller of the switching table(s) can recognize individual records as commands and can execute said commands;

5 the controller can recognize and differentiate various events and thereupon executes a certain action;

6. in response to the event or a combination of events, the controller moves the position pointer(s) and, if it has received configuration data rather than commands for the controller, sends this configuration data to the configurable element(s) defined in the configuration data;

7. the controller can send one or more feedback messages to one or more PLU;

8. a PLU or several PLUs can recognize and analyze this (these) signal(s);

9. a PLU transmits data into the configuration memory of the switching table(s).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a switching table contains one or more read position pointers.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a switching table contains one or more write position pointers.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the position pointer(s) can be moved forward, backward, or onto any desired record within the configuration memory of the switching table.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that not all records of the configuration memory are used.

6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the table controller can send feedback to a PLU.

7. Method for processing data in configurable units with a two- or multidimensional cell arrangement (e.g., FPGAs, DPGAs, DFPs, and the like), characterized in thata memory is assigned to a configurable element or a group of configurable elements, and the result data is temporarily stored in said memory;

2. a switching table or PLU receives a trigger signal as soon as all results have been computed;

3. the functional element is thereupon reconfigured by a switching table or PLU;

4. the memory is thereupon reconfigured by a switching table or PLU;

5. the data of the memory is loaded into the functional element and reprocessed;

6. new data may arrive from additional functional elements;

7. new data may arrive from additional memories;

8. the result can be sent to additional functional elements, another., or the same memory;

9. this sequence is repeated once or several times.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the memory is configured as FIFO and FullFlag is used as trigger signals.

9. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that there are a plurality of memory arrays, operating alternately as read or write memories.

10. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the memory is a ring buffer.

11. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the depth of the memory is configurable.