Semiconductor Virtualization via SFR Segmentation

Solution Overview

Problem

Full-virtualization techniques in semiconductor devices face increased implementation complexity and cost when aiming for extensibility to support multiple guest operating systems, which is not necessary in environments with limited types and numbers of guest operating systems.

Innovation Solution

A semiconductor device with a processor and a special function register (SFR) that allocates separate regions for each guest operating system, allowing for independent data access requests and interrupts, thereby reducing implementation complexity and cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If full-virtualization technique is implemented to support multiple guest operating systems, then virtualization capability is improved, but implementation complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtualization capabilityVSAvoidimplementation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The SFR is divided into multiple regions, with each region allocated to a specific guest operating system. This segmentation allows each guest OS to access only its designated region, providing full-virtualization capability while simplifying the overall implementation by avoiding the need for complex address translation mechanisms required in para-virtualization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If full-virtualization technique is implemented to support multiple guest operating systems, then virtualization capability is improved, but implementation cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtualization capabilityVSAvoidimplementation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The SFR is divided into multiple regions, with each region allocated to a specific guest operating system. This segmentation allows each guest OS to access only its designated region, providing full-virtualization capability while simplifying the overall implementation by avoiding the need for complex address translation mechanisms required in para-virtualization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If separate regions are allocated in SFR for each guest operating system, then data access efficiency is improved, but SFR structure complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata access efficiencyVSAvoidSFR structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The SFR is divided into multiple regions, with each region allocated to a specific guest operating system. This segmentation allows each guest OS to access only its designated region, providing full-virtualization capability while simplifying the overall implementation by avoiding the need for complex address translation mechanisms required in para-virtualization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11003474B2Semiconductor device for providing a virtualization technique

Publication Date: 2021.05.11 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Provided are semiconductor devices. A semiconductor device includes a processor which provides a virtualization function for a physical device to a first guest operating system and a second guest operating system; and an SFR (Special Function Register) which is electrically connected to the processor, and includes a first region allocated to the first guest operating system and a second region allocated to the second guest operating system, wherein information on a first data access request provided from the first guest operating system is stored in the first region, and information on a second data access request provided from the second guest operating system is stored in the second region, and the processor generates a first interrupt and a second interrupt designated to the first guest operating system and the second guest operating system, respectively, in response to the first data access request and the second data access request.