IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,331,533
Granted Patent B2
US 10,331,533 · App. 15/842,752 · Granted Jun 25, 2019

Methods for updating memory maps of a system-on-chip

Inventors: David Alexander Munday (Santa Cruz, CA); Matthew Harbridge Gerlach (Santa Cruz, CA)
Assignee: Altera Corporation
G06F11/3037G06F11/079G06F11/267G06F11/327
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,331,533
App. No.
15/842,752
Granted
Jun 25, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure relates to techniques for updating a memory map maintained by processing circuitry that is coupled to programmable logic circuitry. One of the techniques may involve detecting reconfiguration of a device component formed on a portion of the programmable logic circuitry using monitoring circuitry. The technique may further include generating a notification event based on the reconfiguration of the device component using the monitoring circuitry. The notification event may then be sent to the processing circuitry using the monitoring circuitry. The technique may further involve updating, using the processing circuitry, the memory map based on the notification event.

Claims (31)

1. A method of updating a memory map associated with processing circuitry that is coupled to a field programmable gate array (FPGA), the method comprising:

performing reconfiguration of a first portion of the field programmable gate array (FPGA) to implement a first device component in the first portion of the FPGA;

updating the memory map, wherein the memory map is configured to enable communication access by the processing circuitry with the first device component via a peripheral bus; and

using the memory map in communication between the processing circuitry and the first device component.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein using the memory map in communication between the processing circuitry and the first device component comprises using a device driver for the first device component.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the device driver for the first device component runs on an operating system executed by the processing circuitry.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the operating system comprises Linux.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein updating the memory map comprises changing a base address or a span address of a portion of the memory map associated with the first device component.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein communication between the processing circuitry and the first device component occurs via a kernel of the operating system, wherein the kernel has access to the first device component using the memory map.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the memory map is updated without rebooting the processing circuitry.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing reconfiguration of the first portion of the FPGA to implement the first device component comprises removing a prior device component.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry comprises a central processing unit (CPU).

10. A system comprising:

a processor;

a programmable logic device coupled to the processor by an interconnect, wherein the programmable logic device comprises a programmable device component implemented in a first portion of the programmable logic device; and

a system memory map associated with the processor;

wherein the system memory map is configured to be updated based at least in part on a reconfiguration of the programmable device component implemented in the first portion of the programmable logic device without rebooting the processor.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the programmable logic device comprises a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the programmable device component comprises one of a plurality of programmable device components communicatively coupled to the processor by the interconnect.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the system memory map is configured to enable respective access to the plurality of programmable device components.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the memory map is configured to enable the processor to access the programmable device component as a peripheral circuit.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to run a device driver for the programmable device component.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor comprises a central processing unit (CPU).

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the system memory map is configured to be updated by changing a base address or a span address of a portion of the system memory map associated with the programmable device component.

18. A system comprising:

a processor;

field programmable gate array (FPGA) circuitry in communication with the processor; and

a system memory map associated with the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to cause a first device component implemented in a first portion of the FPGA circuitry to be removed and replaced with a second device component in the first portion of the FPGA circuitry through reconfiguration of the first portion of the FPGA circuitry, and wherein the processor is configured to update the system memory map based at least in part on the reconfiguration of the first portion of the FPGA circuitry.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to update the system memory map without rebooting.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to run a device driver configured to attach to the second device component using the updated memory map.

Assignments (1)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2025
From: ALTERA CORPORATION
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073431/0309 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15065746 · Mar 9, 2016
Related Publication 20180203781A1 · Jul 19, 2018