External Emulation Logic for Chipset Virtualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computer chipsets that do not support virtualization face challenges in implementing virtualization due to increased size, complexity, design time, and cost, as well as power consumption, and it is difficult to add virtualization capabilities retrospectively.
Innovation Solution
Providing hardware support for virtualization externally to the chip through emulation logic, which can be implemented in a field programmable gate array (FPGA), allowing for partitioning of chip functions by addressing and virtualizing host bridges, thereby enabling virtualization without requiring internal virtualization support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If virtualization hardware functions are designed into a chip set, then virtualization capability is achieved, but chip size, complexity, design time, and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the virtualization function into separate external emulation logic units that operate independently from the main chip set. Each emulation logic unit handles specific virtualization tasks, allowing the chip set to remain simple while gaining virtualization capabilities through modular external components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces external emulation logic as an intermediary between the chip set and the virtualization requirements. This intermediary layer provides virtualization functionality without modifying the internal structure of the chip set, thereby avoiding increased chip complexity while still achieving the desired adaptability
2Adaptability or versatility
If virtualization hardware functions are built-in, then virtualization is supported, but power consumption and chip real estate increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the virtualization hardware functions from the main chip set and places them in separate external emulation logic units. This extraction eliminates the need for dedicated virtualization circuitry within the chip set, reducing power consumption and chip real estate requirements while maintaining virtualization support through the external units
3Adaptability or versatility
If software virtualization is used, then hardware can be emulated on various processors, but performance penalties occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces software-based virtualization mechanisms with hardware-based external emulation logic units. These units provide true hardware-level emulation that eliminates the performance overhead associated with software interpretation, while maintaining the ability to emulate different hardware configurations across various processors
4Adaptability or versatility
If external emulation logic is added to a chip set, then virtualization is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs external emulation logic units with universal functionality that can handle multiple virtualization scenarios and different hardware configurations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized components for each virtualization case, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while achieving broad virtualization enablement
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with external virtualization are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes an emulation logic located external to an integrated circuit to which it may be operably connected. The example emulation logic may include a virtualization logic that is configured to virtualize a portion of a function performed by the integrated circuit. The portion may be identifiable by an address associated with the portion. The example emulation logic may also include a data store that is operably connected to the virtualization logic and that is configured to store a state data associated with virtualizing the portion of the function.