Dynamic Memory Bus Line Allocation for Data and Control Traffic
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Data buses in memory systems often experience underutilization and inefficiency due to fixed configurations, leading to increased latency and system performance issues, particularly when the ratio of control bits to data bits changes, resulting in unnecessary footprint expansion and reduced complexity.
Innovation Solution
A memory controller dynamically configures transmission lines of a data bus to allocate resources based on the quantity of control and data bits, allowing some lines to carry control traffic and others to carry data traffic, with error protection mechanisms like parity or CRC to ensure reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transmission lines are allocated for control traffic, then control communication reliability is ensured, but data bus utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configuration of transmission lines where the memory controller can switch between dedicated control bus mode and shared data/control bus mode based on operational needs. This allows the system to adapt the bus configuration dynamically, using dedicated control lines when reliability is critical and sharing lines with data traffic when bus utilization should be maximized, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables transmission lines to serve multiple functions by allowing them to be configured as either control-only lines or shared data/control lines. The same physical infrastructure can universally handle both control traffic and data traffic depending on the configuration, eliminating the need for permanently dedicated control lines and improving overall bus utilization while maintaining reliability when needed
2Quantity of substance
If more transmission lines are allocated for control traffic, then control traffic capacity increases, but system footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of control transmission lines based on actual control traffic requirements. During operations requiring high control traffic capacity, more lines are allocated; during data-intensive operations, fewer lines are used for control. This dynamic allocation allows the system to maintain adequate control capacity when needed while minimizing the footprint during data transfer operations
3Device complexity
If fixed bus configuration is used, then system complexity is reduced, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamically reconfigurable bus system where the memory controller can switch between different bus configurations (dedicated control, shared data/control, data-only modes) based on operational requirements. This dynamic capability reduces latency by optimizing the bus configuration for current traffic patterns without significantly increasing system complexity, as the reconfiguration is managed through control logic that adapts to varying workload demands
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for dynamically configuring transmission lines of a bus between two electronic devices (e.g., a controller and memory device) are described. A first device may determine a quantity of bits (e.g., data bits, control bits) to be communicated with a second device over a data bus. The first device may partition the data bus into a first set of transmission lines (e.g., based on the quantity of data bits) and a second set of transmission lines (e.g., based on the quantity of control bits). The first device may communicate the quantity of data bits over the first set of transmission lines and communicate the quantity of control bits over the second set of transmission lines. In some cases, the first device may repartition the data bus based on different quantities of data bits and control bits to be communicated with the second device at a different time.