Algorithm for the Choice of Topology in Reconfigurable On-Chip Networks with Real-Time Support

Abstract

Many future embedded systems are likely to contain System-onChip solutions with on-chip networks and in order to achieve high aggregated throughputs in these networks, a switched topology can be used. For further performance improvements, the topology can be adapted to application demands, either when designing the chip or by run-time reconfiguration between different predefined application modes. In this paper, we present an algorithm for the choice of topology in, e.g., on-chip networks, considering realtime demands in terms of throughput and delay often put on such systems. To further address possible real-time demands, we include a feasibility analysis to check that the application, when mapped onto the system, will behave in line with its real-time demands. With input information about traffic characteristics, our algorithm creates a topology and generates routing information for all logical traffic channels. In a case study, we show that our algorithm results in a topology that can outperform the use of state of the art topologies for high-performance computer architectures.

Network-on-Chip

“…OperaNP, a ReNoC-based platform, has been proposed by Elmiligi et al (2007) in which cores can be embedded on an array of programmable logic blocks while the data routing is done using another array of configurable routers. A topology allocation algorithm has been presented in Kunert et al (2007) Bartic et al (2003Bartic et al ( , 2005 which is scalable and can be changed to accommodate various needs of applications. This design is realized as part of the platform for reconfigurable systems.…”

Multi-Application Network-on-Chip Design using Global Mapping and Local Reconfiguration

“…Some works [Stensgaard and Sparso 2008;Modarressi and Sarbazi-Azad 2007;Modarressi et al 2010Modarressi et al , 2011Avakian et al 2010;Wu et al 2011;Elmiligi et al 2007;Kunert et al 2007;Zheng et al 2010;Rana et al 2009; Bartic et al 2003Bartic et al , 2005Ahmed et al 2006] configure the network to meet application constraints. A reconfigurable NoC (ReNoC) architecture has been presented in Stensgaard and Sparso [2008] which enables the network topology to be configured by the application running on the SoC by using topology switches.…”

“…OperaNP, a reconfigurable NoC-based platform has been proposed in Elmiligi et al [2007] in which cores can be embedded on an array of programmable logic blocks while the data routing is done using another array of configurable routers. A topology allocation algorithm has been proposed in Kunert et al [2007] considering the demands of different applications. It selects topology depending on the application running on NoC.…”