DMA PMM Transfer Group Priority Management

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing microcontroller units (MCUs) face challenges in managing the priorities of transfer groups without a dedicated Priority Management Module (PMM) hardware, which is costly and increases chip size when additional hardware is required.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a DMA PMM that uses a hardware-linked list configured by software to manage transfer groups, enabling priority management through querying, configuring, and triggering DMA transfers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a dedicated PMM hardware module is used to manage transfer group priorities, then priority management function is achieved, but chip size and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepriority management functionVSAvoidchip size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the priority management function from a dedicated PMM hardware module and relocates it to the DMA controller's software capabilities. By using software algorithms within the existing DMA structure, the solution eliminates the need for separate PMM hardware while preserving priority management functionality, thus reducing chip area and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The DMA controller is designed to perform multiple functions: data transfer, priority management, and queue management. By making the DMA controller universal, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated PMM hardware, as the DMA controller handles both data transfer and priority-based transfer group management through its enhanced software capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a dedicated PMM hardware module is used to manage transfer group priorities, then priority management function is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepriority management functionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the priority management function from a dedicated PMM hardware module and relocates it to the DMA controller's software capabilities. By using software algorithms within the existing DMA structure, the solution eliminates the need for separate PMM hardware while preserving priority management functionality, thus reducing chip area and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive dedicated PMM hardware with software-based priority management implemented in the DMA controller. The software solution uses existing DMA resources and processing capabilities, effectively using a 'disposable' software approach instead of permanent hardware, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Device complexity

If other MCUs without PMM hardware are used, then chip size and cost are reduced, but priority management capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechip sizeVSAvoidpriority management capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The DMA controller is designed to perform multiple functions: data transfer, priority management, and queue management. By making the DMA controller universal, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated PMM hardware, as the DMA controller handles both data transfer and priority-based transfer group management through its enhanced software capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The DMA controller performs self-service by incorporating priority management functionality within its own operations. The software-based priority management is integrated into the DMA controller's transfer management process, allowing the system to manage priorities autonomously without external PMM hardware intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250028664A1DMA PMM for transfer groups

Publication Date: 2025.01.23 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH

AI summary

A method for managing transfer groups at a DMA PMM using a hardware-linked list includes (i) sequentially querying and updating the transfer status of each transfer group in the transfer group queue according to the priorities of the transfer groups, (ii) configuring the transfer group queue based on the results of the query and the priorities of the transfer groups, and (iii) triggering the DMA to transfer the transfer group queue. The method enables priority management for transfer groups used in communication between chips without the need to add hardware modules, thereby avoiding an increase in chip size and manufacturing costs due to the addition of hardware modules. Furthermore, the DMA PMM provided by the present method can be flexibly applied to various different MCUs.