Time-Controlled On-Chip Communication via Trusted Network Authority
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing on-chip communication networks are event-driven, leading to non-deterministic behavior and potential conflicts that cannot be planned for, which is a challenge in achieving deterministic communication between on-chip computers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a time-triggered communication system with a trusted network authority (TNA) that dynamically calculates conflict-free transmission parameters and assigns them to other on-chip computers using privileged messages, ensuring deterministic communication and error isolation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If event-driven communication is used in on-chip networks, then the system can operate with simple event-triggered mechanisms, but the communication behavior becomes non-deterministic and conflicts cannot be planned for
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and assigning transmission parameters (transmission times, durations, and sequences) for all messages in the communication network before runtime. The TNA (Trusted Network Authority) computes conflict-free schedules in advance, ensuring that message transmissions are predetermined and cannot conflict, thus achieving deterministic communication behavior while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If transmission parameters are set autonomously by each IP core, then the system operates with high decentralization and flexibility, but conflicts arise and deterministic communication cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component called the TNA (Trusted Network Authority) that acts as a central coordinator. The TNA receives communication requirements from various IP cores, calculates conflict-free transmission parameters centrally, and distributes the assigned parameters back to the IP cores. This intermediary approach maintains the flexibility of multiple IP cores while ensuring deterministic, conflict-free communication through centralized parameter management.
3Reliability
If a central authority calculates transmission parameters for all IP cores, then deterministic communication is achieved, but the system complexity increases and certification becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex parameter calculation function into a separate, dedicated component called the TNA (Trusted Network Authority), which is distinct from the IP cores themselves. This extraction allows the IP cores to remain simple processing units while the TNA handles the complex scheduling task. By separating the calculation logic from the execution units, the system achieves deterministic communication without significantly increasing the complexity of the core processing elements, making certification more manageable.
4Adaptability or versatility
If transmission parameters can be changed dynamically by any IP core, then the system is highly adaptable to changing requirements, but the integrity of transmission times and durations cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the privileges of different components in the network. The TNA is granted special authority to read and write transmission parameters in the message attribute tables of IP cores, while regular IP cores only have read access. This localized privilege assignment allows the system to maintain parameter integrity through controlled access, while still enabling adaptability through the TNA's ability to dynamically update parameters when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for transmitting messages via a time-controlled communication system (ZK) between a number of IP cores, with each IP core having an information-processing subsystem (IVS) and a network controller (NK) with each NK having at least two interfaces, an interface to the ZK and a second interface to the IVS, characterized in that a distinction is drawn between privileged and non-privileged messages in the ZK, and where the transmission parameters relating to the ZK of a port of an NK, such as the periodically recurring transmission time of a time-controlled message and the maximum transmission duration after each transmission time, can be set exclusively by a privileged message via the ZK or directly by a privileged entity (privileged IP core), and where each NK which intends to send a message starts to transmit the message autonomously exactly at the time of the next transmission time, and ends the transmission process at the latest after the assigned maximum transmission duration has elapsed. The invention also relates to a system-on-chip (SoC) for carrying out a method such as this.