Network-on-chip with fixed and configurable functions

• US 9,553,762 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2014
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altera Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Altera Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: How, Dana, Schmit, Herman Henry, Atsatt, Sean R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phuongchau Ba
• Application Number:
  US14/316,433
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 370/386, 370/400, 711/122, 711/135, 711/202, 711/141, 712/11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0894 Packet rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/06 Deflection routing, e.g. hot-potato routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided herein for providing an NoC including a configurable array of nodes, where a node of the configurable array of nodes operates in a default operating mode until a replacement operating mode is triggered. For example, when an NoC is unconfigured, a latch bank may be initialized to “clear,” such that no routing decisions are stored. This may enable a default operating mode where routing logic updates the latches'"'"' values as needed to implement required routing behavior in a dynamic fashion until configuration is performed.

Claims

1. A Network-on-Chip (NoC) to be used in a programmable integrated circuit logic device, comprising:

a plurality of links; and

an array of nodes, wherein the nodes are communicatively coupled via the plurality of links, and the array;

operates in a default operating mode before a reconfiguration operation is performed on one or more of the nodes;

dynamically routes first data through one or more of the plurality of links utilizing a first routing configuration when the array is operating in the default operating mode;

operates in a replacement operating mode after the reconfiguration operation is performed; and

statically routes second data through the one or more of the plurality of links utilizing a second routing configuration when the array is operating in the replacement operating mode.

2. The NoC of claim 1, wherein the array:

operates in the default operating mode when the NoC is initially powered on; and

operates in the replacement operating mode after the NoC is initialized or programmed by the reconfiguration operation.

3. The NoC of claim 1, wherein the array is operational to perform a function prior to the reconfiguration operation being performed.

4. The NoC of claim 3, wherein the function comprises an identification function, a testing function, a security function, a configuration function, or any combination thereof.

5. The NoC of claim 1, wherein the programmable integrated circuit logic device comprises a System-on-Chip (SoC), a processing block, an application specific standard product, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, or any combination thereof.

6. The NoC of claim 1, wherein each of the nodes is independently configurable.

7. The NoC of claim 1, wherein the array comprises a first node communicatively coupled to a second node in the array via a first link and to a third node in the array via a second link;

wherein, when the first node receives the first data, the first node;

determines available bandwidth in the first link and the second link; and

adjusts the first routing configuration to select the first link or the second link based at least in part on the available bandwidth in the first link and the second link.

8. The NoC of claim 1, wherein the array comprises a first node communicatively coupled to a second node in the array via a first link and to a third node in the array via a second link;

wherein the first node;

retrieves a portion of the second routing configuration when the second data is received; and

determines whether to route the second data through the first link or the second link based at least in part on the portion of the second routing configuration.

9. A method for controlling operation of a Network-on-Chip (NoC), comprising:

determining, using routing logic in nodes of an array in the NoC, whether a reconfiguration operation has been performed on one or more of the nodes;

instructing, using the routing logic, the array to operate in a default operating mode before the reconfiguration operation has been performed, wherein the array dynamically routes first data through one or more links that communicatively couple the nodes utilizing a first routing configuration when in the default operating mode; and

instructing, using the routing logic, the array to operate in a replacement operating mode after the reconfiguration operation has been performed, wherein the array statically routes second data utilizing a second routing configuration through the one or more links when in the replacement operating mode.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

instructing the array to operate in the default operating mode comprises instructing the array to operate in the default operating mode when the NoC is initially powered on; and

instructing the array to operate in the replacement operating mode comprises instructing the array to operate in the replacement operating mode after the NoC is initialized or programmed by the reconfiguration operation.

11. The method of claim 9, comprising facilitating, using the routing logic, the array to perform a function prior to the reconfiguration operation being performed.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the function comprises an identification function, a testing function, a security function, a configuration function, or any combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 9, comprising routing, using the routing logic, the first data, the second data, or both through the one or more links to facilitate operation of-a programmable logic device.

14. The method of claim 9, comprising facilitating, using the routing logic, the one or more nodes to be independently configured by the reconfiguration operation.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein instructing the array to operate in the default operating mode comprises:

determining available bandwidth in a first link and a second link when the first data is received by a first node, wherein the first link communicatively couples the first node to a second node and the second link communicatively couples the first node to a third node;

adjusting the first routing configuration to select the first link or the second link based at least in part on the available bandwidth in the first link and the second link; and

instructing the first node to communicate the first data to the second node or the third node based at least in part on the first routing configuration.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein instructing the array to operate in the replacement operating mode comprises:

determining a portion of the second routing configuration when a first node receives the second data, wherein;

the first node is communicatively coupled to a second node via a first link;

the first node is communicatively coupled to a third node via a second link; and

the portion indicates whether to route the second data through the first link or the second link; and

instructing the first node to communicate the second data to the second node or the third node based at least in part on the portion of second routing configuration.

17. A tangible, non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores instructions executable by one or more processors of a programmable integrated circuit device utilizing a Network-on-Chip (NoC), wherein the instructions comprise instructions to:

instruct, using the one or more processors, an array of nodes in the NoC to communicate first data in a default operating mode, wherein the array dynamically routes the first data through one or more links that communicatively couple the nodes utilizing a first routing configuration when in the default operating mode;

instruct, using the one or more processors, one or more of the nodes that receive the first data to reconfigure based at least in part on the first data; and

instruct, using the one or more processors, the array to communicate second data in a replacement operating mode after the one or more nodes are reconfigured, wherein the array statically routes the second data through the one or more of links utilizing a second routing configuration when in the replacement operating mode.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein:

the instructions to instruct the array to communicate the first data in the default operating mode comprise instructions to instruct the array to operate in the default operating mode when the NoC is initially powered on; and

the instructions to instruct the array to communicate the second data in the replacement operating mode comprise instructions to instruct the array to operate in the replacement operating mode after the NoC is initialized or programmed using the first data.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein:

the instructions to instruct the array to communicate the first data in the default operating mode comprise instructions to instruct the array to perform a function prior to the one or more nodes being reconfigured; and

the function comprises an identification function, a testing function, a security function, a configuration function, or any combination thereof.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein:

the instructions to instruct the array to communicate the first data in the default operating mode comprise instructions to;

determine available bandwidth in a first link and a second link when the first data is received by a first node, wherein the first link communicatively couples the first node to a second node and the second link communicatively couples the first node to a third node;

adjust the first routing configuration to select the first link or the second link based at least in part on the available bandwidth in the first link and the second link; and

instruct the first node to communicate the first data to the second node or the third node based at least in part on the first routing configuration; and

the instructions to instruct the array to communicate the second data using the replacement operating mode comprise instructions to;

determine a portion of the second routing configuration when the first node receives the second data, wherein the portion indicates whether to route the second data through the first link or the second link; and

instruct the first node to communicate the second data to the second node or the third node based at least in part on the portion of the second routing configuration.