Firmware Socket Module for FPGA Pipeline Data Ordering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computing systems face challenges in processing large volumes of data efficiently, as software executed by general-purpose processors often proves too slow, leading to bottlenecks when interconnecting hardware devices like reconfigurable logic with external resources and software.
Innovation Solution
A firmware socket module is designed to interface firmware application modules on reconfigurable logic devices with external memory and software, allowing for direct memory access and maintaining the strict ordering of commands and data through a single communication path, enabling simultaneous processing and synchronization without flushing the entire pipeline.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If software is executed by a general-purpose processor to process large volumes of data, then data processing functionality can be implemented, but data throughput is too slow to meet user needs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces software execution on a general-purpose processor with firmware execution on reconfigurable logic devices. The firmware socket module enables direct hardware control and data processing, substituting the slower software-based processing mechanism with a hardware-accelerated firmware system that operates at much higher speeds and throughputs.
Solution Approach 2:
The firmware socket module serves as an intermediary between the general-purpose processor and the reconfigurable logic device. It manages the interface between software and hardware, enabling efficient data transfer and command transmission without requiring the entire processing pipeline to be flushed, thus resolving the throughput-speed contradiction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If hardware devices are interconnected with external resources and software, then data processing functionality can be extended, but bottlenecks are created when data and commands flow back and forth
Solution Approach 1:
The firmware socket module enables continuous data and command flow between hardware and software without interruption. By maintaining persistent connection and allowing overlapping transactions, the system eliminates bottlenecks and ensures continuous productive operation rather than sequential blocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments data and commands into separate streams that can be processed independently through the firmware socket module. This segmentation allows parallel processing of data transfer and command execution, reducing bottlenecks and improving overall data flow efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If commands are issued to firmware application modules in a pipeline, then data processing operations can be controlled, but the entire pipeline must be flushed to maintain ordering
Solution Approach 1:
The firmware socket module performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing command queues and buffers before data processing begins. This allows commands to be prepared and staged in advance, eliminating the need to flush the entire pipeline when new commands are issued, thus reducing time loss while maintaining operational control.
Solution Approach 2:
The firmware socket module acts as an intermediary buffer between command issuance and pipeline execution. It decouples the command control function from the data processing pipeline, allowing commands to be issued and controlled independently without requiring pipeline flush operations, thereby reducing time loss.
4Reliability
If a single communication path is used for commands and data, then strict ordering can be maintained, but communication complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges commands and data into a single communication path handled by the firmware socket module. This consolidation maintains strict ordering by ensuring commands are processed in sequence with their corresponding data, while the internal structure of the socket module manages the complexity of handling both command types through one unified interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A firmware socket module is deployed on a reconfigurable logic device, wherein the firmware socket module is configured to provide both commands and target data to an entry point in a data processing pipeline, wherein each command defines a data processing operation that is to be performed by the data processing pipeline, and wherein the target data corresponds to the data upon which the data processing pipeline performs its commanded data processing operation. Also, the firmware socket module may be configured to (1) access an external input descriptor pool buffer that defines an order in which commands and target data are to be provided to the data processing pipeline, and (2) transfer the commands and target data from an external memory to the data processing pipeline in accordance with the defined order.