Programmable Hardware Accelerator Controller for Low-Latency Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reconfiguration of programmable hardware accelerators for pipelined stages in learning/inference machines is time-consuming, introduces latency, consumes significant system resources, and poses security risks due to reliance on shared buses and host processors.
Innovation Solution
A configuration controller executes a linked list of configuration operations using a finite state machine to configure hardware accelerators, bypassing shared buses and reducing latency and resource consumption, while enhancing security by managing configuration through a defined set of operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If reconfiguration of programmable hardware accelerators is performed using host processor and shared buses, then configuration flexibility is achieved, but latency increases and system resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the configuration control function from the host processor and shared bus system, implementing it directly within the hardware accelerator through integrated configuration logic and state machines. This removes the dependency on external configuration resources, thereby reducing latency while preserving configuration flexibility through the accelerator's internal reconfiguration capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary configuration interface and control logic layer between the host processor and the hardware accelerator's functional units. This intermediary layer enables direct configuration of pipeline stages and operational parameters without requiring full host processor involvement, thus reducing configuration latency while maintaining adaptability through programmatic control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If reconfiguration is performed through host processor and shared buses, then configuration capability is achieved, but system resources are significantly consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the configuration control functionality from the host processor and implements it within the hardware accelerator itself using integrated state machines and control logic. This self-contained configuration capability eliminates the need for continuous host processor involvement and shared bus transactions, significantly reducing system resource consumption while preserving full configuration capability for pipeline stages and operational parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The hardware accelerator is designed with self-service configuration capabilities through internal control logic that can autonomously reconfigure pipeline stages, data flow paths, and operational parameters based on stored configuration data. This self-configuration mechanism eliminates dependence on external host processor resources and shared buses, thereby reducing overall system resource consumption while maintaining adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If shared buses and host processors are used for configuration, then configuration access is enabled, but security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the configuration access function from the vulnerable shared bus and host processor interface, implementing secure configuration control directly within the hardware accelerator. This isolation removes the configuration path from public shared resources, enabling configuration access through dedicated secure interfaces while eliminating security risks associated with shared bus exposure to multiple system components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary secure configuration interface layer that mediates between the host processor and the hardware accelerator's internal configuration resources. This intermediary layer provides controlled, authenticated access to configuration parameters without exposing the accelerator's internal state through shared buses, thereby maintaining ease of operation while mitigating security risks through isolation and access control.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a host processor, a memory, a hardware accelerator and a configuration controller. The host processor, in operation, controls execution of a multi-stage processing task. The memory, in operation, stores data and configuration information. The hardware accelerator, in operation preforms operations associated with stages of the multi-stage processing task. The configuration controller is coupled to the host processor, the hardware accelerator, and the memory. The configuration controller executes a linked list of configuration operations, for example, under control of a finite state machine. The linked list consists of configuration operations selected from a defined set of configuration operations. Executing the linked list of configuration operations configures the plurality of configuration registers of the hardware accelerator to control operations of the hardware accelerator associated with a stage of the multi-stage processing task. The configuration controller may retrieve the linked list from the memory via a high-speed data bus.