SoC Packet Sequencing with Synchronized Counter Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consecutive numbering of data packets in system-on-chip (SoC) communication increases data overhead and bandwidth requirements, as the sender unit must include a unique number in each packet, potentially leading to errors from concurrent data streams or misinterpretation by receiver units.
Innovation Solution
Implementing synchronized send and receive counters that are initialized to a common value and incremented together, with periodic challenge operations to verify counter consistency, reducing the need for frequent transmission of counter values and allowing detection of packet loss or unexpected data packets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If consecutive numbering is included in each data packet, then packet sequencing and error detection capability is improved, but data overhead and bandwidth requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the counter value transmission from every data packet and consolidates it into periodic challenge operations only. The sender unit maintains a send counter and the receiver unit maintains a receive counter, but instead of including the counter value in every packet, the receiver periodically sends a challenge operation containing its receive counter value, and the sender responds with its send counter value. This extraction principle removes the harmful overhead from regular data packets while preserving the reliability function through periodic verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic challenge operations where the receiver unit sends a challenge operation at defined intervals (e.g., every N packets or after a time threshold) rather than continuously. This periodic action maintains packet sequencing and error detection capability while significantly reducing the frequency of counter value transmissions, thereby lowering data overhead and bandwidth requirements compared to including counter values in every packet.
2Reliability
If counter values are transmitted frequently, then detection of packet loss or unexpected data packets is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts counter value transmission from the continuous data stream and concentrates it into discrete challenge-response operations. By separating the counter verification function from regular data packet transmission, the system achieves reliable detection of packet loss while minimizing bandwidth consumption through sparse, event-driven counter exchanges rather than continuous transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The challenge operations are triggered periodically based on defined thresholds (packet count or time interval), creating an optimized verification rhythm. This periodic action ensures that packet loss detection remains effective by sampling the counter values at sufficient intervals, while simultaneously reducing bandwidth consumption by avoiding unnecessary counter transmissions during periods when no packet loss is suspected.
3Measurement precision
If consecutive packet numbers are included in every packet, then receiver can verify packet order and completeness, but total data transmission volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the packet numbering function from individual data packets and implements it through separate challenge-response operations. The receiver unit maintains a receive counter that tracks packet order and completeness, but instead of embedding this counter in every packet, it periodically queries the sender's send counter through challenge operations. This extraction maintains precise verification capability while eliminating the redundant numbering data from the main data stream.
Solution Approach 2:
The challenge operations provide periodic sampling of counter values to verify packet order and completeness. By performing these verification checks at defined intervals rather than continuously, the system maintains measurement precision for detecting packet loss or reordering events while significantly reducing the total data transmission volume compared to including counter values in every single packet.
Data Source
AI summary
A system-on-chip comprising a sender unit and a receiver unit and a method of operating thereof are described. The sender unit comprises a send counter for providing a send counter value. The receiver unit comprises a receive counter for providing a receive counter value. The sender unit is arranged to increment the send counter value by an increment and send a data packet to the receiver unit. The receiver unit is arranged to receive the data packet and increment the receive counter value by the increment. In a challenge operation, the sender unit sends the send counter value to the receiver unit. In a challenge response operation, the receiver unit receives the send counter value, compares the values, and generates a comparison result. Loss of data packets from the sender unit as well as reception of unexpected data packets from a third functional unit may thus be detected.