Dynamic Slave Circuit Reassignment for Semiconductor Resource Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
In semiconductor integrated circuits with multiple master and slave circuits, the inefficiency in resource utilization arises when slave circuits assigned to inactive master circuits become unavailable, leading to a significant decrease in system resource use efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Reassigning a slave circuit previously assigned to an inactive master circuit to an active master circuit, allowing the slave circuit to be utilized by both, thereby improving resource allocation and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a slave circuit is assigned to a master circuit, then the slave circuit can be dedicated to that master circuit for reliable operation, but the slave circuit becomes unavailable when the master circuit is in an inactive state, leading to decreased system resource use efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The slave circuit is designed to serve multiple master circuits rather than being dedicated to a single master circuit. The control circuit enables the slave circuit to be accessed by different master circuits based on their operational status, allowing the slave circuit to perform the same function for different masters, thereby improving resource utilization while maintaining reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the connection relationship between master circuits and slave circuits based on operational status. When a master circuit transitions from active to inactive state, the control circuit dynamically reassigns the previously assigned slave circuit to another active master circuit, making the system flexible and adaptive to changing conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple master circuits and slave circuits are integrated in a semiconductor integrated circuit, then the circuit becomes multifunctional and highly integrated, but the number of unavailable slave circuits increases as the number of inactive master circuits increases
Solution Approach 1:
Slave circuits are designed with universal access capability, allowing them to serve multiple master circuits. The control circuit manages access permissions dynamically, enabling a single slave circuit to fulfill the same functional role for different master circuits, thereby maximizing the utilization of integrated resources while maintaining the multifunctional capability of the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the access control logic into a unified control circuit that manages multiple master circuits' access to slave circuits. This consolidation allows efficient resource sharing and eliminates the need for separate dedicated connections for each master-slave pair, improving overall resource utilization in the highly integrated circuit.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a slave circuit is previously assigned to a given master circuit, then the assignment is simple and stable, but the slave circuit becomes unavailable when the master circuit goes into an inactive state, resulting in decreased use efficiency of system resources
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains stable assignment relationships during normal operation but introduces dynamic reassignment capability when masters become inactive. The control circuit monitors operational status and automatically adjusts assignments, combining the stability of predefined assignments with the flexibility needed to maintain resource efficiency during state transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit implements feedback by monitoring the operational status of master circuits and using this information to make real-time decisions about slave circuit assignments. When a master circuit transitions to an inactive state, the feedback mechanism triggers the reassignment of its previously assigned slave circuit to another active master circuit, maintaining optimal resource utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor integrated circuit, including a first master circuit, a second master circuit, a first slave circuit assigned to the first master circuit, and determines that an access request signal is sent from the first master circuit when an identification information is a first value, a first bus coupled to the first master circuit, the second master circuit, and the first slave circuit, a bus controller is configured to transmit the access request signal to the first slave circuit via the first bus, a system controller directs the bus controller to substitute the first value for a second value on the identification information of the access request signal received from the second master circuit when the first master circuit is in the deactivated state.