Hybrid Router Architecture for Network-on-Chip Power and Throughput Trade-offs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current network-on-chip (NoC) interconnects face challenges in balancing power consumption and throughput, as circuit-switched networks offer lower power but require reserved resources, while packet-switched networks provide flexibility but consume more power due to buffering needs, and existing topologies like mesh and hierarchical star have trade-offs that don't adapt well to varying NoC requirements.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a hybrid router architecture that switches between circuit-switched and packet-switched modes based on packet information, using multiplexers to avoid buffering and allocate resources efficiently, and employing different clock speeds to reduce power consumption, while also supporting both mesh and hierarchical network topologies for adaptable performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If circuit-switched networks are used to reduce power consumption, then power efficiency improves, but resource flexibility deteriorates due to required resource reservation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidresource flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The router dynamically switches between circuit-switched mode (for low power consumption with resource reservation) and packet-switched mode (for high flexibility without reservation), allowing the system to adapt its switching strategy based on real-time traffic conditions and performance requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters by adjusting the switching mode (circuit-switched vs. packet-switched) based on traffic patterns, message sizes, and performance metrics, optimizing the balance between power consumption and resource flexibility for different operating conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If packet-switched networks are used to improve resource utilization for small messages, then adaptability improves, but power consumption increases due to buffering requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The router dynamically selects between packet-switched operation (providing high resource utilization for small messages) and circuit-switched operation (reducing power consumption), with the selection based on real-time evaluation of message characteristics and network conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system adjusts operational parameters by changing switching modes based on message size, traffic patterns, and performance requirements, optimizing the balance between resource utilization and power consumption for varying workloads

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If circuit-switched routing is used to achieve lower power consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but throughput may deteriorate due to dedicated channel reservation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidthroughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The router dynamically adjusts between circuit-switched mode (lower power, dedicated channels) and packet-switched mode (higher throughput, shared resources), selecting the optimal mode based on real-time traffic conditions and performance requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters by adjusting switching modes based on traffic load, message characteristics, and performance metrics, optimizing the balance between power consumption and throughput for different operating scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If distributed routing schemes are used to improve adaptability to varying traffic patterns, then versatility improves, but resource reservation efficiency deteriorates due to incomplete real-time information

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic pattern adaptabilityVSAvoidresource reservation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The router dynamically evaluates incoming packet information and real-time network conditions to make routing decisions, adjusting resource allocation based on current traffic patterns while maintaining adaptability to varying workload characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9634866B2Architecture and method for hybrid circuit-switched and packet-switched router

Publication Date: 2017.04.25 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Techniques and mechanisms for performing circuit-switched routing and packet-switched routing for network communication. In an embodiment, a router evaluates control information of a packet received by the router, the evaluation to detect whether the packet includes data for a sideband communication. Based on the evaluation, the router performs a selection from among a plurality of modes of the router, the plurality of modes including a first mode to route the packet for packet-switched communication of sideband data in a network. The plurality of modes also includes a second mode to configure a circuit-switched channel according to the packet. In another embodiment, the router determines a direction for routing a packet in a hierarchical network, wherein the determining of the direction is based on a level of the router in a hierarchy of the hierarchical network.