Bus system and router

Abstract

In an NoC bus system, data is transmitted between first and second nodes through a router. The data includes performance-ensuring data which guarantees throughput and / or a permitted time delay. The first node generates packets, each including the data to be transmitted and classification information that indicates the class of that data to be determined according to its required performance, and controls transmission of the packets. The router includes a buffer section configured to store the received packets separately after having classified the packets according to their required performance by reference to the classification information, and a relay controller configured to control transmission of the packets stored in the buffer section at a transmission rate which is equal to or higher than the sum of transmission rates to be guaranteed for every first node associated with the classification information by reference to each piece of the classification information.

Description

[0001]This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT / JP2013 / 004449, with an international filing date of Jul. 22, 2013, which claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-163833, filed on Jul. 24, 2012, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Technical Field[0003]The present application relates to a technology for controlling a network of communications buses (distributed buses) provided for a bus system in a semiconductor integrated circuit.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]An NoC (Network-on-Chip) is a network of communications buses to be provided on a semiconductor chip which is a semiconductor integrated circuit. In an NoC, buses are connected together via routers and traffic flows are transmitted from a plurality of masters through the same bus shared. As a result, the number of buses to use can be cut down and the buses can be used more efficiently.[0006]In an NoC, however, a bus is shared by traffic flo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This approach reduces bus operating frequency, minimizes interference, and ensures required performance by efficiently utilizing bus bandwidth, reducing power dissipation and chip area while increasing flexibility in layout and reducing bus line restrictions.

Problems solved by technology

In an NoC, however, a bus is shared by traffic flows coming from multiple masters, and therefore, it is difficult to ensure performance (more specifically, to ensure throughput and delay).

As a result, a traffic flow with a high level of priority will be interfered with by a traffic flow with a low level of priority, which is a problem.

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