NoC Router Fork Tables for Multicast Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Network-on-Chip (NoC) systems face congestion and energy inefficiencies due to multicast and reduction messages, which lead to throughput bottlenecks and increased energy consumption, especially in multi-core processors where complex interconnect architectures are required to manage bandwidth and performance across multiple cores.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method that tracks the forking of multicast messages and uses this information to streamline reduction messages, employing separate routing protocols for multicast and reduction messages to reduce network congestion and improve energy efficiency, with the use of fork tables to manage message aggregation and routing in NoC systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multicast and reduction messages are used in NoC systems, then communication efficiency between cores is improved, but network congestion increases and throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork congestion

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments multicast messages into multiple unicast messages by tracking the forking behavior at each router. Instead of transmitting a single multicast message that causes congestion, the system divides it into separate unicast transmissions along different paths, reducing network congestion while maintaining communication efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension of message tracking by maintaining fork tables in routers that record the forking behavior of multicast messages. This additional dimensional information (forking paths) enables the system to reconstruct and aggregate reduction messages efficiently, resolving the contradiction between communication efficiency and network congestion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multicast messages are transmitted to multiple destinations, then communication coverage is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication coverageVSAvoidswitching energy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary tracking of message forking at each router by maintaining fork tables before reduction messages need to be aggregated. This preliminary action records the paths taken by multicast messages, enabling efficient aggregation of reduction messages later and reducing the energy required for switching and message handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from reduction messages to update fork tables in routers. When reduction messages return from multiple destinations, the routers use the stored forking information to efficiently aggregate these messages, reducing redundant switching operations and lowering energy consumption while maintaining comprehensive communication coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If separate routing protocols are implemented for multicast and reduction messages, then message routing precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage routing precisionVSAvoidrouting protocol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal fork table structure in routers that serves multiple functions: tracking multicast message forking, guiding reduction message aggregation, and storing path information. This multi-functional approach achieves precise routing for both multicast and reduction messages while avoiding the need for completely separate routing protocols, thus reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Manufacturing precision

If fork tables are used to track multicast message forking, then message aggregation accuracy is improved, but hardware resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage aggregation accuracyVSAvoidhardware resources

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The fork tables are dynamically created when multicast messages fork and are discarded (cleared) after the associated reduction messages have been aggregated. This temporary use of hardware resources ensures accurate message aggregation while minimizing the permanent hardware resource overhead. The system recovers the fork table space after use, optimizing resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentUS9923730B2System for multicast and reduction communications on a network-on-chip

Publication Date: 2018.03.20 INTEL CORP

AI summary

A multicast message that is to originate from a source is received. The multicast message comprises an identifier. A plurality of directions in which the multicast message is to fork at the router are stored. A plurality of messages from the directions in which the multicast message is to fork are received. The received messages are to comprise the identifier. The plurality of messages are aggregated into an aggregate message and sent towards the source.