Responder Domain Resource Allocation for Multi-Core Power Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In asymmetric multi-core systems, the need to keep entire initiator domains active to access resources leads to excessive power consumption, particularly in battery-powered applications, due to the requirement of maintaining unnecessary circuits active.
Innovation Solution
A multi-core system with N initiator domains and a responder domain, where the responder domain does not run its own operating system and can only respond to requests from initiator domains, allowing resources to be allocated and shared among them, enabling adaptive reset handling and reduced power consumption by keeping only necessary resources active.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire initiator domain is kept active to access resources from another domain, then resource accessibility is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the domain architecture into initiator domains and a responder domain. The responder domain contains shared resources that can be independently controlled, allowing initiator domains to access resources without keeping their entire domain active. This segmentation enables selective power management where only the responder domain needs to remain active for resource sharing.
Solution Approach 2:
The responder domain acts as an intermediary that mediates resource access between multiple initiator domains. It provides a centralized location for shared resources with its own power management control, allowing initiators to access resources without directly maintaining their own domain's full operational state.
2Reliability
If complete initiator domains are maintained active for resource sharing, then resource availability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments functionality by separating resource hosting (responder domain) from resource consumption (initiator domains). This allows resources to be centrally managed in the responder domain with simplified power control, while initiator domains can be powered down or placed in low-power states when not actively consuming resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The responder domain provides universal resource sharing capabilities that can serve multiple initiator domains simultaneously. This multi-functional approach consolidates resource management infrastructure in one domain, reducing the need for each initiator domain to maintain its own complete resource stack.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit includes a primary initiator domain (ID) circuit including having a processor core, a responder domain (RD) control circuit, and a reset controller. Secondary ID circuits, each include a processor core and a reset controller. RD circuitry is coupled to communicate with the primary ID circuit and the secondary ID circuits and includes RD resource circuits. The RD control circuit is configured to allocate each of the RD resource circuits to a first initiator domain consisting of the primary ID circuit or one of the secondary ID circuits, and when one of the secondary ID circuits enters a reset mode of operation, the RD resource circuit allocated to the one of the secondary ID circuits enters a reset while the remaining RD resource circuits are not affected by the reset.