SoC IP Block Discovery via Memory Map Self-Reporting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuits (ICs) face challenges in supporting their lifecycle due to the unavailability of design files, which can be lost or not properly archived, and the need for personnel to access design details years after the original design is complete, especially when different personnel are involved in support and design functions.
Innovation Solution
An IC is configured with a bridge circuit, a discover circuit, and a memory map that stores records of Intellectual Property (IP) blocks, allowing it to generate and send a list of IP blocks to external systems upon request, enabling self-reporting of IP blocks and their configurations without relying on original design files.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If design files are archived for future support, then information availability is improved, but storage and management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The IC device autonomously stores and retrieves its own design information through integrated memory structures and discovery circuits, eliminating the need for external archiving systems. The device serves itself by maintaining an internal memory map that records IP block locations and configurations, allowing support personnel to query the device directly for design information without relying on external file archives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a discovery circuit as an intermediary component that mediates between external support systems and the internal IP blocks of the IC. This discovery circuit processes requests from external systems, queries the internal memory map, and retrieves specific design information about IP blocks, thereby simplifying the interface between support personnel and the complex internal architecture of the IC.
2Ease of operation
If design files are kept accessible for support personnel, then ease of operation is improved, but security and access control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by providing different levels of access information to different users or systems. The memory map can store detailed information about IP blocks, and the discovery circuit can selectively reveal information based on the requesting system's authorization level. This allows ease of operation for authorized personnel while maintaining security, as each user receives only the information appropriate to their role without requiring a complex centralized access control system.
3Loss of information
If detailed IP block information is stored in memory, then information completeness is improved, but memory resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for support purposes and stores it in the memory map. Rather than storing complete design files or exhaustive IP block details, the memory map contains selectively extracted information such as IP block locations, basic configurations, and identification data. This extraction approach maintains information completeness for support needs while minimizing memory resource consumption by storing only what is necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit (IC) includes a bridge circuit configured to receive a first request from an external system, a discover circuit coupled to the bridge circuit and configured to process the first request received from the bridge circuit, and a memory map coupled to the discover circuit. The memory map stores a record for each of a plurality of Intellectual Property (IP) blocks implemented within the IC. The discover circuit is configured to generate a list of the IP blocks implemented within the IC from the records of the memory map responsive to the first request. The bridge circuit is configured to send the list to the external system.