NoC Broadcast Adapters for Parallel Transaction Duplication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems-on-chips (SoCs) with network-on-chips (NoCs) require sequential transmission of identical transactions to multiple slaves, limiting the rate at which identical requests can be sent, as current protocols treat transactions as unicast, leading to inefficiencies in time and resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
Implementing broadcast adapters (BAs) in the NoC to broadcast transactions using a special range of addresses, allowing simultaneous transmission to multiple slaves, with the ability to perform functions on transactions before broadcasting, and supporting multiple broadcast networks and transformation of data formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sequential transmission of identical transactions to multiple slaves is used, then protocol compatibility is maintained, but transmission time increases linearly with the number of slaves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transaction transmission process by introducing broadcast adapters (BAs) that receive a single transaction and segment it into multiple copies, each sent to different slaves simultaneously. This segmentation allows parallel transmission while maintaining protocol compatibility at each node.
Solution Approach 2:
The broadcast adapter acts as an intermediary between the master and multiple slaves. It receives the original transaction, duplicates it, and distributes copies to multiple slaves simultaneously, thereby reducing transmission time while maintaining protocol compatibility through the use of special broadcast addresses.
2Loss of time
If broadcast adapters are introduced to enable simultaneous transmission, then transmission time is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The broadcast adapter is designed as a multi-functional component that can operate in different modes: it can forward transactions normally, broadcast to multiple slaves, or aggregate responses from multiple slaves. This universality reduces the need for separate dedicated hardware for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The broadcast adapter creates copies of the incoming transaction and sends them to multiple slaves simultaneously. This copying mechanism enables parallel transmission without requiring complex reconfiguration of the underlying protocol, thus reducing transmission time with minimal increase in device complexity.
3Loss of time
If special address range is used for broadcasting, then simultaneous transmission to multiple slaves is enabled, but address space utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic or conditional address allocation where special broadcast addresses are allocated on-demand for broadcast operations. When broadcast is needed, a special address from the reserved range is used; otherwise, normal addressing is used. This approach enables simultaneous transmission when needed while minimizing the impact on address space utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
A broadcast adapter in a network-on-chip (NoC) is used for broadcasting transactions in the form of packets from an initiator to multiple targets and for receiving responses from the targets that are combined and sent to the initiator. The transactions originate from an initiator and are send, using the NoC, to broadcast adapters using a special range of addresses. The broadcast adapters receive the transactions from the initiator. The broadcast adapters duplicate the transactions and send the duplicated transaction to multiple targets. The targets send a response, which is transported back by the NoC to the corresponding initiator.