Network-on-Chip Time-Multiplexed Shared Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern integrated circuits face challenges in efficiently moving large amounts of data across the chip without consuming excessive resources, which can compromise performance and reduce available area for non-data movement functions.
Innovation Solution
A Network-on-Chip (NoC) implementation that combines packet-based and time-multiplexed communication using a hybrid approach with a reduced number of ports, bufferless topology, and schedule controllers to manage data transfer, allowing for concurrent data transmission over shared physical channels while maintaining packet order.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a Network-on-Chip is implemented using existing technologies, then data transfer capability is provided, but a significant amount of IC resources (wires, electronic components, area) is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple communication channels into shared physical channels through time-multiplexing. Multiple logical channels are combined and transmitted over fewer physical wires by alternating their signals in time slots, reducing the total number of physical connections required for the NoC implementation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic time-multiplexed signaling where different logical channels are activated in periodic time slots. Each channel transmits data during its allocated time window, creating a rhythmic pattern of signal transmission that allows multiple channels to share physical infrastructure without conflict
2Productivity
If a Network-on-Chip is implemented using existing technologies, then data exchange between circuit blocks is enabled, but the NoC consumes a large amount of area on the IC
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple dedicated communication paths into shared physical channels. By merging the infrastructure requirements of multiple channels into a single set of physical wires, the overall area required for routing and interconnect structures is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 2:
The shared physical channels serve multiple logical functions and communicate with multiple circuit blocks. Each physical channel is designed to be universal, handling different types of data traffic from different sources and destinations at different time slots, eliminating the need for dedicated channels for each function
3Productivity
If resources are allocated to NoC implementation, then data movement functionality is provided, but resources are not available for other purposes such as compute power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges data movement functionality into a compact NoC structure that shares physical resources. By combining multiple communication functions into shared infrastructure, the total resource footprint is reduced, leaving more area and components available for compute units and other functional blocks
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit can include a Network-on-Chip (NoC) having a router network with first and second shared physical channels. The NoC includes one or more master bridge circuits (MBCs) coupled to the router network, where each MBC provides a packet-based interface to a master client circuit coupled thereto for initiating transactions over the router network. Each MBC sends and receives data for the transactions over the router network as flits of packets according to a schedule. The NoC includes one or more slave bridge circuits (SBCs) coupled to the router network, where each SBC provides a packet-based interface to a slave client circuit coupled thereto to for responding to the transactions over the router network. Each SBC sends and receives the flits over the router network according to the schedule. The flits sent from different client circuits are interleaved using time-multiplexing on the first and second shared physical channels.