Asynchronous Chip Data Transmission Without Feedback Delays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current asynchronous clockless circuit designs in chip communication suffer from inflexible control flow, unreliable data transmission, and excessive delays due to the use of feedback signals, leading to inefficiencies in data transmission.

Innovation Solution

Implement an asynchronous multi-rail transmission protocol with a full-duplex communication mode, using a programmable delay unit to set time intervals for data transmission based on distance, and encode control information to prioritize its transmission, eliminating the need for feedback signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If asynchronous clockless circuit design is used to reduce communication delay, then transmission delay is reduced and dynamic power consumption is reduced, but control flow becomes inflexible and unreliable, and feedback signals occupy communication time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission delayVSAvoidcontrol flow reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments data into flits (fixed-length data units) and segments control information into separate encoding categories. This segmentation allows independent optimization of data transmission and control flow, improving reliability without sacrificing the asynchronous low-delay advantage. The control information is embedded within the data transmission channel rather than using separate feedback signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges control information transmission with data transmission by encoding control information within the same communication channel used for data. This eliminates the need for separate feedback signal channels, preventing communication time occupation by feedback signals while maintaining reliable control flow through the integrated encoding scheme.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If data is sent continuously without rate control, then throughput increases, but the receive end cannot process data effectively within the time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem throughputVSAvoiddata processing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action through the preset time interval mechanism that controls when data signals are sent. This periodic rate control ensures that data is transmitted at a sustainable pace that matches the receive end's processing capability, maintaining reliability while achieving optimal throughput. The time interval is determined based on transmission distance to account for signal propagation delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-determining the preset time interval based on transmission distance before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary configuration ensures that the transmission rate is optimized for the specific communication scenario, allowing high throughput while guaranteeing that receiving nodes have sufficient time to process incoming data reliably.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If control information is given high priority, then control flow flexibility improves, but data transmission time is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol flow flexibilityVSAvoiddata transmission time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by using a single communication channel that handles both data transmission and control information transmission. The encoding scheme can represent both data flits and control information, allowing the system to adapt to different transmission needs without requiring separate channels. This multi-functionality ensures control flow flexibility while preventing data transmission time loss that would occur with dedicated control channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4716197A1Information transmission method and related device
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4716197A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3A
  • EP4716197A1 patent drawingFigure 3B
  • EP4716197A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed are an information transmission method and a related device. The information transmission method includes: A first node receives first data or a first data signal, where the first data signal is obtained by encoding a first flit, and the first flit is obtained by decomposing the first data; and the first node sends the first data signal to a second node based on a preset time interval, where the preset time interval is determined based on a transmission distance between the first node and the second node. A sending rate is controlled by configuring an interval for periodically sending data, to ensure that a receive end can effectively process data within the time. In addition, a feedback signal that increases a transmission delay is omitted in asynchronous clockless communication. In this way, a transmission delay is reduced and a system throughput rate is increased.