Signal-to-Function Mapping Circuit for Adaptive State Machine Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
System-on-chip (SoC) designs face complexity in managing multiple power islands and tasks, leading to system delays due to CPU overload, and existing solutions are not generic enough to be applicable across varying complexity levels from IoT platforms to heavy compute platforms.
Innovation Solution
An integrated circuit with a memory, a mapping interface, and a state machine that stores functions, maps signals to functions, and re-maps them based on execution frequency, allowing for efficient power management and task execution across different power states, including breaking down large functions into smaller ones for rescheduling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a CPU is used to manage tasks and power islands in SoC designs, then the system can handle multiple tasks and power domains, but the CPU becomes overloaded leading to system delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated task management unit as an intermediary between the CPU and power islands/tasks. This specialized unit handles task scheduling and power island management, freeing the CPU from these overhead tasks while improving management efficiency. The intermediary unit translates high-level task requirements into specific power island control actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the task and power island management functionality from the general-purpose CPU into a separate dedicated management unit. This extraction allows the CPU to focus on core processing tasks while the specialized unit handles management overhead, thereby reducing system delays caused by CPU context switching and task management.
2Ease of operation
If individualised approaches are used to tailor process management to particular system requirements, then operation of that particular system is improved, but the approach is no longer applicable to other systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal task management unit with configurable parameters that can adapt to different system requirements. The unit implements a standardized interface and control mechanism that works across various SoC configurations, from IoT platforms to heavy compute platforms. Configuration registers and programmable parameters allow the same hardware structure to serve multiple system types without redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic configuration capabilities where the task management unit can be programmed and reconfigured based on specific system requirements. The management unit responds to different task priorities, power island configurations, and system states by dynamically adjusting its behavior through programmable parameters, making it adaptable to both simple and complex systems.
3Productivity
If complex mapping and re-mapping of signals to functions is implemented, then efficient power management and task execution are achieved, but hardware complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal-to-function mapping into hierarchical levels: a global mapping layer for power islands and a local mapping layer for individual functions. This segmentation allows complex mappings to be broken down into manageable segments that can be independently configured and managed, reducing the overall hardware complexity while maintaining mapping efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary configuration of signal-to-function mappings through programmable registers and configuration interfaces. The mapping relationships are established in advance through software configuration rather than complex hardwired logic, allowing efficient power management and task execution with simpler hardware structures that rely on pre-configured mapping tables.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit includes a memory configured to store a plurality of functions; a mapping interface configured to perform a mapping from a received first signal to a first function of the plurality of functions; and a state machine configured to, in response to said mapping, execute the first function; wherein the integrated circuit is arranged to, in dependence on the execution of the first function at the state machine, modify said mapping between the first signal and the first function so as to re-map the first signal to a second function of the plurality of functions such that, on receiving a subsequent first signal, the state machine is configured to execute the second function.