Transaction Terminator for Power Domain Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In systems-on-chip, transactions in progress can hang if a functional module's power is cut off without the CPU's awareness, leading to system instability due to the lack of robust communication protocols handling such situations.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a central processing unit, interconnection bus, and slave modules configured to substitute and signal errors for powered-off slave functional modules, ensuring that master modules receive error messages, thus preventing system hangs during power domain shutdowns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If power is cut off to a functional module to save energy, then power consumption is reduced, but system stability deteriorates due to hanging transactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a terminator module as an intermediary component between the interconnection bus and the functional module. When power is cut off to a functional module, the terminator module substitutes for it on the bus, receiving requests and generating error responses. This mediator prevents master modules from hanging while waiting for responses, thus maintaining system stability during power domain shutdowns.
2Loss of energy
If a slave functional module is powered off during a transaction, then power consumption is reduced, but communication reliability worsens as the master module waits indefinitely
Solution Approach 1:
The terminator module is pre-configured and positioned in the system before power domain shutdowns occur. When a slave functional module needs to be powered off, the terminator is already in place to immediately substitute for it, preventing communication failures before they can occur. This preliminary preparation ensures seamless transition and maintains communication reliability.
3Productivity
If power domains are separated for flexible power management, then energy efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional power control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the system into separate power domains, each with its own terminator module. This segmentation allows independent power control for different functional modules, enabling the CPU to power off specific domains to save energy. The terminator modules are simple, standardized components that can be replicated for each domain, managing complexity through modular design.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system comprises a central processing unit (10), an interconnection bus (1 ), and a plurality of functional modules (11-15, 21 ) corresponding to distinct power domains and able to communicate with each other and/or with the central processing unit via the bus. At least one slave module (22) is associated with one of the power domains, and is configured to be substituted for a slave functional module (21) of the power domain when the power to the power domain is turned off by the central processing unit. It signals an error in response to any request of a transaction that is in progress between the slave functional module and a master functional module at the moment the power is turned off.