Programmable NoC Channel Bonding for Flexible Data Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fixed interconnect networks in programmable logic devices, such as FPGAs, often lead to inefficiencies due to underutilization, resulting in higher power consumption and reduced scalability when accommodating protocols with varying bandwidths.
Innovation Solution
A programmable interconnect network with flexible data paths that can dynamically adjust bandwidth by logically bonding subsets of physical paths based on transmission parameters, allowing for application-dependent bandwidth allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed bandwidth network-on-chip is designed based on likely use cases, then the network can accommodate certain protocols, but it cannot accommodate protocols with different bandwidth requirements efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The network-on-chip implements dynamically reconfigurable data paths that can adjust their width based on the specific protocol and bandwidth requirements of incoming traffic. The interconnect network can switch between different data path configurations (e.g., 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit widths) to match the actual data transmission needs, preventing both underutilization and overflow scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of data path width dynamically by reconfiguring the interconnect network's transmission paths. This allows the same physical hardware to support multiple protocols with different bandwidth requirements by adjusting the effective data width of the communication channels according to the specific protocol being used
2Adaptability or versatility
If the network-on-chip is designed with wide bandwidth to accommodate all protocols, then all protocols can be supported, but power consumption increases and efficiency decreases for narrow-band protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The interconnect network dynamically adjusts its operational configuration based on the active protocol, enabling it to consume only the necessary power for the current bandwidth requirement. When a narrow-band protocol is active, the network configures narrower data paths and activates only the necessary transmission channels, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining full protocol support capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the operational parameters of the network, specifically the data path width and activation state of transmission channels, to match the current protocol requirements. This parameter adjustment allows the network to optimize power consumption by activating only the necessary resources for the current workload
3Device complexity
If the network-on-chip uses fixed data paths, then the design is simpler, but it cannot efficiently accommodate varying bandwidth requirements of different protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The interconnect network is divided into multiple segmentable data paths that can be independently configured and combined. The network consists of modular transmission channels that can be selectively activated and grouped to form data paths of different widths, allowing flexible adaptation to various protocol requirements while maintaining a manageable design through modular architecture
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques described herein may relate to providing a programmable interconnect network (e.g., a programmable network-on-chip (NOC)). A method may include determining a transmission parameter, bonding one or more channels of an interconnect network based at least in part on the transmission parameter, and power-gating any unused channels after the bonding.