Pipeline configuration unit protocols and communication

• US 7,003,660 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2001
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scientia Sol Mentis AG (PACT XPP Schweiz AG)
• Original Assignee: Pact XPP Technologies, AG
• Inventors: Vorbach, Martin, Ehlers, Gerd, Nückel, Armin, May, Frank, Baumgarte, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAMIN, ABDELMONIEM I
• Application Number:
  US10/297,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20040025005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,714 Days
• Field of Search: 713/100, 710/100, 326/37, 326/38, 326/39, 326/40, 326/41
• US Class Current: 713/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/7867 with reconfigurable architecture
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/3885 using a plurality of independent parallel functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/3897 with adaptable data path

Abstract

An example method of controlling a data processing system having a cellular structure. The method includes transmitting a first configuration word to a first processing unit in the cellular structure. The method also includes processing data with the first processing unit in accordance with the first configuration word. The method also includes transmitting a second configuration word to the first processing unit. The method also includes transmitting a reconfiguration signal to the first unit, the reconfiguration signal indicating that the first unit should begin processing data in accordance with the second configuration word. If the first processing unit has completed processing data in accordance with the first configuration word prior to when the reconfiguration signal is received by the first processing unit, data may be processed by the first processing unit in accordance with the second configuration word. If the first processing unit has not completed processing data in accordance with the first configuration word, data may continue to be processed with the first processing unit in accordance with the first configuration word.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a data processing system having a cellular structure, comprising:

transmitting a first configuration word to a first processing unit in the cellular structure;

processing data with the first processing unit in accordance with the first configuration word;

transmitting a second configuration word to the first processing unit;

transmitting a reconfiguration signal to the first unit, the reconfiguration signal indicating that the first unit should begin processing data in accordance with the second configuration word;

if the first processing unit has completed processing data in accordance with the first configuration word prior to when the reconfiguration signal is received by the first processing unit, processing data with the first processing unit in accordance with the second configuration word; and

if the first processing unit has not completed processing data in accordance with the first configuration word, continuing to process data with the first processing unit in accordance with the first configuration word.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the first processing unit has completed processing data in accordance with the first configuration word prior to when the reconfiguration signal is received by the first processing unit, sending an acknowledgment signal in response to the receipt of the reconfiguration signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the first processing unit has not completed processing data in accordance with the first configuration word, sending a rejection signal in response to the receipt of the reconfiguration signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein

the reconfiguration signal is transmitted together with the second configuration word.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the second reconfiguration word in the first processing unit prior to the processing of data with the first processing unit in accordance with the first configuration word,

wherein the reconfiguration signal is transmitted after the processing of data with the first processing unit in accordance with the first configuration word has commenced.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting a state variable associated with the first processing unit to indicate the first processing unit is in a configured state prior to processing data with the first processing unit in accordance with the first configuration word.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

setting the state variable associated with the first processing unit to indicate the first processing unit is in an unconfigured state when processing of data with the first processing unit in accordance with the first configuration word has been completed.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

testing the state variable associated with the first processing unit when the reconfiguration signal is received by the first processing unit.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a differential reconfiguration signal to the first processing unit.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

if the first processing unit is processing data in accordance with the first configuration word when the differential reconfiguration signal is received, terminating the processing of data by the first processing unit in accordance with the first configuration word and commencing processing of data by the first processing unit in accordance with the second configuration word.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

sending an acknowledgment signal from the first processing unit if the first processing unit is processing data in accordance with the first configuration word when the differential reconfiguration signal is received by the first processing unit.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

sending a rejection signal from the first processing unit if the first processing unit is not processing data in accordance a configuration word when the differential reconfiguration signal is received by the first processing unit.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delaying the transmission of the configuration signal, the delay being sufficient to prevent the second configuration signal from arriving at the first processing unit before the first processing unit has completed processing data in accordance with the first configuration word.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

routing the transmission of the reconfiguration signal to the first processing unit via a first transmission path to the first processing unit that is longer than a shortest transmission path to the first processing unit, the first transmission path being selected so that the first transmission path is sufficiently long to ensure that the reconfiguration signal reaches the first processing unit after the processing of data by the first processing unit in accordance with the first configuration word has been completed.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending a start signal to the first processing unit;

beginning the processing of data in the first processing unit in accordance with the first configuration word when the start signal is received by the first processing unit.

16. A method of controlling a data processing system having a cellular structure, comprising:

transmitting a first configuration word to a first processing unit in the cellular structure;

setting a state variable associated with the first processing unit to a value indicative that the first processing unit is in a configured state;

processing data with the first processing unit in accordance with the first configuration word;

when the processing of data with the first processing unit in accordance with the first configuration word has been completed, setting the state variable associated with the first processing unit to a value indicative that the first processing unit is in an unconfigured state;

transmitting a second configuration word to the first processing unit;

transmitting a reconfiguration signal to the first unit, the reconfiguration signal indicating that the first unit should begin processing data in accordance with the second configuration word;

if the state variable indicates the first processing unit is in an unconfigured state when the reconfiguration signal is received by the first processing unit, processing data with the first processing unit in accordance with the second configuration word; and

if the first processing unit is in a configured state when the reconfiguration signal is received by the first processing unit, continuing to process data with the first processing unit in accordance with the first configuration word.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

if the state variable indicates the first processing unit is in an unconfigured state when the reconfiguration signal is received by the first processing unit, sending an acknowledgment signal from the first processing unit in response to the reconfiguration signal.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

if the first processing unit is in a configured state when the reconfiguration signal is received by the first processing unit, sending a rejection signal from the first processing unit in response to the reconfiguration signal.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

transmitting a differential reconfiguration signal to the first processing unit;

if the first processing unit is in an unconfigured state when the differential reconfiguration signal is received by the first processing unit, maintaining the first processing unit in an unconfigured state; and

if the first processing unit is in a configured state, processing data with the first processing unit in accordance with the second configuration word.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

sending an acknowledgment in response to the differential configuration signal, if the first processing unit is in a configured state when the differential configuration signal is received by the first processing unit.