Scripted Peripheral Interconnect for Event-Driven Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices with peripheral interconnects lack the flexibility to dynamically reconfigure connections between peripherals based on specific event-driven tasks, which limits their ability to support time-critical operations.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a scripting mechanism that allows a controller to configure a peripheral interconnect by accessing a script stored in memory. This script comprises instructions that identify peripheral event outputs, task inputs, and event outputs, enabling dynamic reconfiguration of connections based on events signalled by peripherals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed peripheral interconnect configuration is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different event-driven tasks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral interconnect configuration is made dynamic through a scripting mechanism that allows the controller to load and execute different configuration scripts from memory. Each script contains a sequence of instructions that define event outputs, task inputs, and timing parameters, enabling the interconnect to be reconfigured on-the-fly without hardware changes, thus achieving adaptability while maintaining manageable complexity through software control
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the configuration parameters of the peripheral interconnect by loading different script data into the controller. Each script defines specific parameters including event output identifiers, task input identifiers, and timing characteristics. By modifying these parameters through script execution rather than hardware reconfiguration, the system achieves versatility without proportionally increasing device complexity
2Ease of operation
If processor-mediated communication is used between peripherals, then control flexibility is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral interconnect is designed to operate autonomously by executing pre-loaded scripts that define event routing and task triggering between peripherals. The controller loads the script once and then the interconnect self-manages the event-driven communication without requiring continuous processor intervention, allowing the processor to enter low-power sleep states while maintaining flexible peripheral control through the autonomous interconnect system
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration scripts are prepared and loaded into the controller in advance, defining the complete sequence of event routing and task activation. This preliminary action allows the interconnect to execute predetermined communication patterns autonomously without real-time processor mediation, reducing power consumption while preserving control flexibility through the pre-planned script sequences
3Productivity
If dynamic reconfiguration of peripheral interconnect is implemented, then adaptability to time-critical operations is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral interconnect implements dynamic reconfiguration through a scripting mechanism where configuration data is loaded from memory and executed by the controller. The script defines event outputs, task inputs, and timing parameters that enable rapid adaptation to time-critical operations. This dynamic approach allows the system to reconfigure interconnect paths on-demand without requiring complex hardware switching mechanisms, achieving high-speed adaptability through software-driven configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces potential mechanical or complex hardware-based reconfiguration mechanisms with a software-based scripting system. The controller loads configuration scripts from memory and executes instructions that programmatically configure the interconnect, substituting physical reconfiguration complexity with software control. This substitution enables fast, programmable adaptation to time-critical operations while keeping the hardware architecture relatively simple
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed an electronic device and a method of operating an electronic device. It has peripherals which each have one or more event outputs or task inputs, connected to a peripheral interconnect. The device also has a controller for configuring the peripheral interconnect and a memory, which are communicatively coupled to a bus system. The peripheral interconnect receives configuration data from the controller, which selectively connects peripheral event outputs and task inputs. The controller uses the bus system to access a sequence of instructions in a script stored in the memory. Each instruction in the sequence identifies a peripheral task input, event output and a second peripheral event output. Each subsequent instruction in the sequence is implemented in response to detecting an event signalled from the second peripheral event output identified by the preceding instruction in the sequence.