Common Data Format for Router Link Width Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a System on a Chip (SoC) environment, the differences in capabilities between Initiator Intellectual Property cores (ICs) and Target Intellectual Property cores (TCs) lead to overheads in timing and space, making communication inefficient due to disparate data width requirements and complex logic for link width conversion.
Innovation Solution
A flexible routing network using a common data format (CDF) for packetization and depacketization, allowing for efficient width conversion and simplified router design by aligning mandatory and optional fields based on frequency of use, enabling flexible and timing-friendly data transmission across the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different data width formats are used to match initiator and target capabilities, then communication compatibility is improved, but device complexity and timing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a common data format (CDF) as an intermediary representation layer between initiators and targets with different capabilities. The CDF acts as a mediator that standardizes data transmission, eliminating the need for complex direct width conversion logic between disparate components. This intermediary format simplifies the communication interface while maintaining compatibility across different data widths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the data representation parameter from variable-width formats to a standardized CDF format. By transforming data into this common format with defined field structures (including optional extension fields), the system achieves width conversion through parameter standardization rather than complex logic manipulation, reducing device complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex subfield manipulation is used for width conversion, then precise data transmission is improved, but timing delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the CDF structure with fixed field positions and formats before data transmission occurs. This upfront standardization eliminates the need for complex runtime subfield manipulation and width conversion operations, thereby reducing timing delays while maintaining precise data transmission through the predetermined field structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If standardized data format is used for all transmissions, then verification simplicity is improved, but flexibility in handling different data widths decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The CDF is segmented into mandatory fields and optional extension fields. This segmentation allows the core structure to remain standardized for simplified verification, while the optional fields provide flexibility to accommodate different data widths and capabilities. The structured segmentation maintains verification simplicity while enabling adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The CDF design achieves universality by creating a single data format that can handle multiple data width requirements through its optional extension fields. This multi-functional format serves both verification simplicity (through standardized core fields) and data width flexibility (through configurable extensions), eliminating the need for multiple specialized formats.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for routing information in a flexible routing network which connects disparate initiators and targets includes implementing a packetization logic at an interface between an initiator or a target and a routing network to receive transmission traffic from the initiator or the target and to packetize the transmission traffic into packets. Each packet includes header and body portions. Each of the header and body portions includes one or more standard sized transmission units. Each standard sized transmission unit includes control and payload sections. A payload section associated with the body portion includes one or more chunks. The method includes encoding the one or more chunks using a Common Data Format (CDF). All transmissions within the routing network are based on the CDF. The CDF facilitates narrow-to-wide and wide-to-narrow link width conversion without having to manipulate subparts of data fields in the transmission traffic.