Sideband Interface Aggregating Completion Messages in Routers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of diverse intellectual property blocks into a single system-on-chip (SoC) is complex due to varying requirements and design uniqueness, leading to increased design complexity and customization, as well as inefficiencies in handling multiple completions and bandwidth consumption in computer systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a sideband interface for aggregating completions, using a predetermined aggregation indicator to facilitate the transmission of multicast or broadcast requests, allowing for the aggregation of completion responses in a single message, thereby reducing the need for multiple unicast read requests and simplifying the design of semiconductor devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple unicast read requests are sent to read identical registers in multiple agents, then complete data can be obtained from each agent, but system complexity and bandwidth consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple unicast read requests are merged into a single multicast read request. The initiating master agent sends one multicast request to read identical registers across multiple agents, and the fabric aggregates the completion responses into a single completion message, reducing system complexity while maintaining data completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The fabric is designed to handle both unicast and multicast operations universally. The same fabric infrastructure supports traditional point-to-point transactions and the new multicast with aggregation feature, allowing the system to adapt to different communication patterns without requiring separate dedicated structures
2Reliability
If multiple unicast read requests are sent to read identical registers in multiple agents, then complete data can be obtained from each agent, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual read transactions are combined into a single multicast transaction. Instead of sending separate requests that each consume bandwidth, one aggregated request is sent that retrieves data from multiple agents simultaneously, and the completion responses are aggregated into a single message, significantly reducing fabric bandwidth consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The same read operation is replicated and sent to multiple target agents through the multicast mechanism. The initiating master agent copies the read request and sends it to multiple destinations, obtaining data from all agents through a single operation rather than requiring separate physical transactions
3Adaptability or versatility
If IP blocks are re-designed to accommodate interface and signaling requirements of a given SoC, then the IP blocks can be integrated into the SoC, but design complexity and customization requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric provides a universal communication infrastructure that works with diverse IP blocks without requiring each IP block to be customized. The standardized multicast with aggregation feature can be used by any IP block that needs to communicate with multiple agents, reducing the need for specialized interface designs for each IP block
Solution Approach 2:
The fabric acts as an intermediary that handles the complexity of communicating with multiple agents. Instead of requiring IP blocks to directly manage complex point-to-point communications with each agent, the fabric provides standardized multicast and aggregation services that simplify the IP block interface requirements
Data Source
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AI summary
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving a request in a router from a first endpoint coupled to the router, where the request is for an aggregated completion. In turn, the router can forward the request to multiple target agents, receive a response from each of the target agents, and consolidate the responses into an aggregated completion. Then, the router can send the aggregated completion to the first endpoint. Other embodiments are described and claimed.