IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,225,279
Granted Patent B2
US 7,225,279 · App. 10/443,554 · Granted May 29, 2007

Data distributor in a computation unit forwarding network data to select components in respective communication method type

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,225,279
App. No.
10/443,554
Granted
May 29, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A data distributor in a computational unit of an integrated circuit is enclosed. The data distributor receives data from a network and distributes the data to a plurality of components within the computational unit. The data distributor includes an input mechanism for receiving the data from the network, and distributes the data to a selected component of the plurality of components, a control mechanism responsive to a control signal for distributing the data to the selected component using a data distribution selected between a look-up table-based memory write and a point-to-point distribution with acknowledgement. The plurality of components comprises a Peek/Poke Module, an Execution Unit, a DMA Engine, and a Hardware Task Manager Message Generator. The selected data distribution type may comprise using an output port number or a direct-memory address transfer or an interrupt to distribute the data.

Claims (37)

1. A data distributor in a computational unit of an integrated circuit, wherein the data distributor receives data from a network and distributes the data to a plurality of components within the computational unit, the data distributor comprising

an input mechanism for receiving the data from the network at the data distributor in the computational unit;

a distribution mechanism responsive to a control signal for distributing the data to a selected component of the plurality of components, wherein the data is distributed as it is received from the network; and

a control mechanism responsive to a control signal for distributing the data to the selected component using a selected data distribution type of a plurality of data distribution types, the plurality of data distribution types comprising a look-up table-based memory write and a point-to-point distribution with acknowledgement.

2. The data distributor of claim 1 , wherein the selected component includes a register configured to store the distributed data.

3. The data distributor of claim 1 , wherein the selected component includes a memory configured to store the distributed data.

4. The data distributor of claim 1 , wherein any contentions between the input mechanism and the selected component are resolved in favor of the input mechanism.

5. The data distributor of claim 1 , wherein the selected data distribution type further comprises using an output port number to distribute the data.

6. The data distributor of claim 1 , wherein the selected data distribution type further comprises using a direct-memory address transfer to distribute the data.

7. The data distributor of claim 1 , wherein the selected data distribution type further comprises using an interrupt to distribute the data.

8. The data distributor of claim 1 , wherein the input mechanism includes a pipeline register.

9. The data distribution of claim 1 , further comprising an output register coupled to the network; and an arbiter mechanism for arbitrating priority of the requests from the plurality of components.

10. The data distributor of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of components comprises a Peek/Poke Module.

11. The data distributor of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of components comprise an Execution Unit.

12. The data distributor of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of components comprise a DMA Engine.

13. The data distributor of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of components comprise a Hardware Task Manager Message Generator.

14. The data distributor of claim 1 , wherein data is received from a plurality of reconfigurable nodes, and wherein the data distributor is configured to distribute the data from the reconfigurable nodes based on information in the data.

15. A method for distributing data in a computational unit of an integrated circuit, the method comprising

receiving data from a network couplable to the integrated circuit;

selecting a data distribution type of a plurality of data distribution types, the plurality of data distribution types comprising a look-up table-based memory write and a point-to-point distribution with acknowledgement; and

distributing the data to a selected component of a plurality of components within the computational unit according to a control signal for distributing the data to the selected component and according to a control signal for distributing the data using the selected data distribution type.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the selected component includes a register.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the selected component includes a memory.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the selected data distribution type further comprises using an output port number to distribute the data.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the selected data distribution type further comprises using a direct-memory address transfer to distribute the data.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the selected data distribution type further comprises using an interrupt to distribute the data.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the data is received by an input mechanism comprising a pipeline register.

22. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

arbitrating among the plurality of components to select output data to transfer to the network; and

outputting the selected data to the network.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising sending data to an output register coupled to the network; and prioritizing requests from the plurality of components.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein one of the plurality of components comprise a Peek/Poke Module.

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein one of the plurality of components compromise an Execution Unit.

26. The method of claim 22 , wherein one of the plurality of components comprise a DMA Engine.

27. The method of claim 22 , wherein one of the plurality of components comprise a Hardware Task Manager Message Generator.

28. The method of claim 15 , wherein any contentions between the input mechanism and the selected component are resolved in favor of the input mechanism.

29. The method of claim 15 , wherein data is received from a plurality of reconfigurable nodes, wherein the data distributor is configured to distribute the data from the reconfigurable nodes based on information in the data.