NON-INTRUSIVE MONITORING AND CONTROL OF INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
A method of monitoring operations of a set of ICs. The method loads a first set of configuration data into a first IC for configuring a group of configurable circuits of the first IC to perform operations of a user design. The method receives a definition of an event based on values of a set of signals in the user design and a set of corresponding actions to take when the event occurs. The set of signals includes at least one signal received from a second IC. The method generates an incremental second set of configuration data based on the definition of the event and the set of corresponding actions. While the first IC is performing the operations of the user design, the method loads the incremental second set of configuration data into the first IC and monitors the signals received from the second IC at the first IC.
1 . A method of monitoring operations of a system comprising a set of integrated circuits (ICs) mounted on a circuit board, the set of ICs comprising a first IC comprising a set of configurable circuits for configurably performing a set of operations based on configuration data, the method comprising:
loading a first set of configuration data into the first IC for configuring a plurality of configurable circuits in the set of configurable circuits to perform operations of a user design;
receiving a definition of (i) an event based on values of a set of signals in the user design and (ii) a set of corresponding actions to take when the event occurs, the set of signals comprising at least one signal from a second IC in the set of ICs received at an input port of the first IC;
generating an incremental second set of configuration data based on the definition of the event and the set of corresponding actions;
while the first IC is performing the operations of the user design, loading the incremental second set of configuration data into the first IC; and
while the first IC is performing the operations of the user design, monitoring the signal received from the second IC at the input port of the first IC.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first IC further comprises a configuration and monitoring network for (i) receiving configuration data sets, (ii) monitoring for events, and (iii) taking actions after each monitored event occurs.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the configuration and monitoring network comprises a set of reconfigurable circuits, wherein the incremental second configuration data set comprises configuration data for reconfiguring the reconfigurable circuits of the configuration and monitoring network.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the incremental second set of configuration data is received from a third IC mounted on the circuit board.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the incremental second set of configuration data is received from a controller outside the circuit board.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein loading the incremental second set of configuration data into the IC does not alter the functionality performed by the parts of the IC under the control of the first set of configuration data.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of corresponding actions comprises at least one of sending a value of one or more signals to an output port of the IC, generating a signal to halt the operations of the IC, reconfiguring a set of configurable circuits in the IC.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein loading the incremental second set of configuration data into the first IC does not replace the first set of configuration data.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of configuration data is generated from the user design, wherein generating the incremental second set of configuration data does not require modifying the user design.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the first set of configuration data comprises compiling the user design specified in register-transfer language (RTL), wherein generating the incremental second set of configuration data does not require recompiling the user design.
11 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing a program for monitoring operations of a system comprising a set of integrated circuits (ICs) mounted on a circuit board, the set of ICs comprising a first IC comprising a set of configurable circuits for configurably performing a set of operations based on configuration data, the program executable by at least one processing unit, the program comprising sets of instructions for:
loading a first set of configuration data into the first IC to configure a plurality of configurable circuits in the set of configurable circuits to perform operations of a user design;
receiving a definition of (i) an event based on values of a set of signals in the user design and (ii) a set of corresponding actions to take when the event occurs, the set of signals comprising at least one signal from a second IC in the set of ICs received to an input port of the first IC;
generating an incremental second set of configuration data based on the definition of the event and the set of corresponding actions;
loading, while the first IC is performing the operations of the user design, the incremental second set of configuration data into the first IC; and
monitoring, while the first IC is performing the operations of the user design, the signal received from the second IC at the input port of the first IC.
12 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the first IC further comprises a configuration and monitoring network for (i) receiving configuration data sets, (ii) monitoring for events, and (iii) taking actions after a monitored event occurs,
13 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the configuration and monitoring network comprises a set of reconfigurable circuits, wherein the incremental second configuration data set comprises configuration data for reconfiguring the reconfigurable circuits of the configuration and monitoring network.
14 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for receiving the incremental second set of configuration data from a third IC mounted on the circuit board.
15 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for receiving the incremental second set of configuration data from a controller outside the circuit board.
16 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein loading the incremental second set of configuration data into the IC does not alter the functionality performed by the parts of the IC under the control of the first set of configuration data.
17 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the set of corresponding actions comprises at least one of sending a value of one or more signals to an output port of the IC, generating a signal to halt the operations of the IC, reconfiguring a set of configurable circuits in the IC.
18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein loading the incremental second set of configuration data into the first IC does not replace the first set of configuration data.
19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the first set of configuration data is generated from the user design, wherein generating the incremental second set of configuration data does not require modifying the user design.
20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the set of instructions for generating the first set of configuration data comprises a set of instructions for compiling the user design specified in register-transfer language (RTL), wherein generating the incremental second set of configuration data does not require recompiling the user design.