Weighted Arbiter System for Proportional Bandwidth Arbitration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing routers face challenges in efficiently handling data with multiple bandwidths and varying ratios, leading to increased complexity and size in arbitration systems, which complicates fair and proportional data distribution.
Innovation Solution
A weighted arbiter system is implemented, comprising multiple arbiters and logic that selects requestors based on their associated bandwidths, ensuring data is distributed proportionally and efficiently across different channels, using a combination of hardware and software to manage requestor IDs and output frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single arbiter handles all requestors with different bandwidths, then the arbitration logic becomes increasingly complex and the device size increases, but the ability to handle multiple bandwidths and ratios is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the arbitration system into multiple independent arbiters, each handling a specific bandwidth group. This segmentation allows each arbiter to be simpler while collectively handling diverse bandwidth requirements. The system partitions requestors into groups based on bandwidth characteristics and assigns dedicated arbiters to each group, resolving the contradiction between handling multiple bandwidths and maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the arbitration structure by organizing arbiters in levels. Higher-level arbiters make coarse-grained decisions about bandwidth group selection, while lower-level arbiters handle fine-grained requestor selection within groups. This dimensional organization allows the system to handle complex bandwidth scenarios without increasing the complexity of individual arbitration logic.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more elements are added to the arbitration table to handle higher bandwidth ratios, then the bandwidth ratio handling capability is improved, but the memory requirements and access time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The arbitration table is segmented into multiple smaller tables, each associated with a specific bandwidth group. This segmentation reduces the size of individual tables, allowing faster access times while collectively covering a wide range of bandwidth ratios. Each arbiter maintains a smaller, more manageable table rather than one large table containing all possible bandwidth combinations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary classification of requestors into bandwidth groups before arbitration. This preliminary action organizes requestors in advance, allowing the arbitration process to work with pre-sorted data structures that enable faster access. By pre-organizing requestors based on bandwidth characteristics, the system reduces the time needed during actual arbitration operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An arbiter system may include a first arbiter, a second arbiter, and selection logic. The first arbiter may be configured to select a first data identifier from among a group of data identifiers that are associated with a first bandwidth. The second arbiter may be configured to select a second data identifier from among another group of data identifiers that are associated with a second bandwidth. The selection logic may be configured to periodically select the first data identifier and the second data identifier so that the first data identifier and the second data identifier are respectively selected in proportion to the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth.