Transaction Converter Circuit Block for IC Communication Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Integrated circuits (ICs) face performance degradation due to transactional inefficiencies between circuit blocks and processors, which are difficult to address without modifying underlying circuit blocks or cores, especially when these blocks are non-modifiable or obtained from third parties.

Innovation Solution

A transaction converter circuit block is introduced within the circuit design to correct transactional inefficiencies detected in trace data, allowing for improved communication efficiency without altering the underlying circuit blocks, by analyzing trace data to identify inefficiencies and configuring the converter accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If circuit blocks are obtained from third parties or are non-modifiable, then device availability and ease of manufacture are improved, but the ability to correct transactional inefficiencies deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidadaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a transaction converter circuit block as an intermediary component between the non-modifiable circuit block and the processor. This converter acts as a mediator that translates or adapts transactions without requiring modification of the original circuit block, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while enabling adaptability through the intermediate conversion layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If transactional inefficiencies are addressed by modifying underlying circuit blocks, then communication efficiency is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of manufacture increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the solution by separating the transaction conversion function from the original circuit block. Instead of modifying the entire circuit block, the conversion functionality is isolated into a distinct transaction converter component, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining communication efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The transaction converter serves as an intermediary that handles the complexity of transaction adaptation, allowing the original circuit block to remain simple and unmodified. This mediator approach improves communication efficiency without increasing the complexity of the underlying circuit blocks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If manual modification of circuit blocks is performed to correct transactional inefficiencies, then communication efficiency is improved, but ease of operation and design time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automated detection and configuration of transaction converters, allowing the design process to self-correct transactional inefficiencies without requiring manual intervention from designers. The processor automatically analyzes trace data, identifies inefficiencies, and configures appropriate converters, thereby improving communication efficiency while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses trace data as feedback to automatically detect transactional inefficiencies and configure transaction converters accordingly. This feedback mechanism eliminates the need for manual analysis and modification, improving communication efficiency while keeping the design process simple and automated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Adaptability or versatility

If transaction converters are automatically configured using trace data, then adaptability and communication efficiency are improved, but measurement precision and detection complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidmeasurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs feedback mechanisms where trace data from actual transactions is used to automatically configure transaction converters. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt to specific transaction patterns while using automated analysis tools that maintain sufficient measurement precision without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The automated configuration system performs self-service by analyzing trace data and automatically determining optimal converter settings. This self-service approach improves adaptability while managing detection complexity through automated algorithms rather than manual precision measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10346572B1Inclusion and configuration of a transaction converter circuit block within an integrated circuit

Publication Date: 2019.07.09 XILINX INC

AI summary

A method of circuit design can include detecting, using a processor, a transactional inefficiency within trace data including transactions involving a first circuit block of a circuit design and, in response to the detecting, generating a modified version of the circuit design by including a transaction converter circuit block within the circuit design. The transaction converter circuit block can be coupled to the first circuit block and can be adapted to correct the transactional inefficiency.