Network on Chip Versatile Packet Format for IP Interoperability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Network on Chip (NoC) technologies face challenges in managing interoperability between different Intellectual Property (IP) protocols, leading to overhead in area and latency, and lack flexible arbitration strategies and error management.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that implement a versatile packet format with a configurable header and variable arbitration granularity, enabling support for multiple IP protocols and error handling across the network layers, using additional signals for flit identification and error reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If protocol converters are used to enable communication between different IP cores, then interoperability between different IP protocols is achieved, but area overhead and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal packet format that can carry different IP protocol types (AMBA, STBus, AXI) within the same network infrastructure. The packet header includes a protocol identifier field that enables the network to recognize and route different protocol types without requiring separate dedicated channels or protocol converters for each protocol, thereby eliminating the need for additional conversion hardware and reducing latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the packet format parameters dynamically based on the protocol type. The header structure includes variable fields such as protocol identifier, source identifier, destination identifier, and data length that are adjusted according to the specific IP protocol being transmitted. This parameterization allows the same physical network to efficiently handle multiple protocols without requiring physical reconfiguration or additional converters.
2Ease of operation
If a unique fixed arbitration granularity is used for all traffic types, then arbitration simplicity is maintained, but quality of service cannot be optimized for different traffic classes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic arbitration granularity where the arbitration unit can be configured to operate at different levels (e.g., packet level, flit level, or finer granularities) based on the traffic class and protocol type. The arbitration controller receives protocol identifiers and traffic class information from the packet headers and adjusts the arbitration granularity accordingly, allowing critical traffic to receive prioritized attention while maintaining overall system simplicity through automated adaptation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If protocol converters are added to support multiple IP protocols, then interoperability is achieved, but area overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal packet format that can carry different IP protocol types (AMBA, STBus, AXI) within the same network infrastructure. The packet header includes a protocol identifier field that enables the network to recognize and route different protocol types without requiring separate dedicated channels or protocol converters for each protocol, thereby eliminating the need for additional conversion hardware and reducing area overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple protocol-specific network interfaces into a single unified network interface that can handle all supported protocols. By combining the packet formatting, addressing, and routing functions into a single integrated unit that selects the appropriate protocol handling based on the packet header, the design eliminates the need for separate converter modules for each protocol pair, significantly reducing the overall area required in the NoC.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of performing transactions in a communication network in which is exchanged between Intellectual Property (IP) cores has information transported in packets which include a header for transporting control information and one or more payloads transporting content. A versatile packet format is used which is adapted to transport different traffic patterns generated by the IP cores using different protocols for simple interoperability between the IP cores and also providing configurability of the granularity arbitration process to correct crossing the routers in the communication network.