Parallel Processing Communication Architecture with Hybrid TDMA Sequencing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data processing systems with parallel processing units face challenges in ensuring predictable and authorized access to shared resources, particularly in dynamic time-division multiple access (TDMA) systems, where inefficiencies arise from unpredictable data exchange and unauthorized access.

Innovation Solution

A communication architecture that includes a set of interfaces linked to processing units, sequencers for defining time intervals of access to a shared memory, and address managers for allocating ports, ensuring each unit has authorized access through configurable TDMA sequencers and error detection mechanisms, allowing for predictable and secure data exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If dynamic TDMA is used to allocate time windows based on demand, then communication efficiency is improved, but predictability of data exchange is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidpredictability of data exchange

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments time windows into fixed and dynamic portions, where fixed time windows guarantee predictable access for critical processing units while dynamic time windows optimize communication efficiency for other units. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing both predictability and efficiency to coexist in different parts of the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of time window allocation from purely dynamic to a hybrid model with fixed and dynamic components. Fixed time windows maintain constant parameters for predictability, while dynamic time windows adjust parameters based on demand for efficiency, thus resolving the contradiction through parameter differentiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If fixed time windows are used for TDMA, then predictability of communication is improved, but communication efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepredictability of communicationVSAvoidcommunication efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the TDMA framework into fixed time windows for predictability and dynamic time windows for efficiency. Processing units can be assigned to either fixed or dynamic windows based on their requirements, allowing the system to simultaneously achieve both predictability and efficiency through functional segmentation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces dynamics selectively into the TDMA framework by allowing dynamic time window allocation for certain processing units while maintaining fixed windows for others. This partial dynamics approach preserves predictability where needed while gaining efficiency where flexible allocation is beneficial.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If processing units are allowed to access any shared memory resource, then system versatility is improved, but data corruption risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem versatilityVSAvoiddata integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces address managers as intermediary components between processing units and shared memory resources. These managers verify and control access permissions, allowing versatile memory access while preventing unauthorized operations that could cause data corruption. The intermediary enforces access rules without limiting legitimate versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary authorization checks through address managers before allowing processing units to access shared memory resources. By verifying access permissions in advance, the system enables versatile memory access for authorized units while preventing data corruption from unauthorized access attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11216308B2Communication architecture for exchanging data between processing units

Publication Date: 2022.01.04 SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE COCKPIT SOLUTIONS

AI summary

A communication architecture, for exchanging data between processing units that are intended to operate in parallel comprises a communication system comprising a set of interfaces each intended to be linked to a processing unit, a set of sequencers that are able to define, for each processing unit, time intervals of access to a shared memory accessible by the processing units for writing and reading data, for the sequential arbitration of accesses to said memory, and a set of address managers able to allocate each processing unit ports for access to the shared memory.