Apparatus and method for implementing an integrated circuit IP core library architecture

1. An integrated circuit (IC) architecture, comprising:

a library of intellectual property (IP) cores configured to provide a plurality of individual circuit functions;

said IP cores arranged so as to enable a customized, functional selection of individual ones of said IP cores;

wherein individually functional selected said IP cores are accessible through a star based communication structure included within said library, the star based communication structure further comprising:

one or more first level communication hubs configured for communication with one or more external circuit devices with respect to said library;

a plurality of sub-clusters in communication with each of said first level communication hubs, through second level communication hubs;

said plurality of sub-clusters further comprising a plurality of third level communication hubs in communication with a corresponding one of said second level communication hubs; and

subsets of said IP cores associated with a given sub-cluster are configured for selective coupling to one or more of said third level communication hubs.

2. The IC architecture of claim 1 , further comprising:

a given one of said third level communication hubs centrally located with respect to a subset of said IP cores associated therewith;

a given one of said second level communication hubs of an associated sub-cluster centrally located with respect to said third level communication hubs in said associated sub-cluster; and

a given one of said first level communication hubs centrally located with respect to a subset of sub-clusters associated therewith.

3. The IC architecture of claim 1 , wherein connections between said one or more first level communication hubs and said one or more external circuit devices have a higher bandwidth capability than connections between said individual functional selected said IP cores and said third level communication hubs.

4. The IC architecture of claim 1 , wherein individual functional selected said IP cores within a given sub-cluster are of varying sizes and shapes.

5. The IC architecture of claim 1 , wherein one or more of said individual functional selected said IP cores are configured for selective connection to external input/output devices.

6. A system-on-chip (SOC) device, comprising:

a local microprocessor;

a local memory device;

a bus controller; and

a library of intellectual property (IP) cores configured to provide a plurality of individual circuit functions;

said IP cores arranged so as to enable a customized, functional selection of individual ones of said IP cores;

wherein individually functional selected said IP cores are accessible through a star based communication structure included within said library, the star based communication structure further comprising:

one or more first level communication hubs configured for communication with one or more external circuit devices with respect to said library;

a plurality of sub-clusters in communication with each of said first level communication hubs, through second level communication hubs; and

said plurality of sub-clusters further comprising a plurality of third level communication hubs in communication with a corresponding one of said second level communication hubs;

wherein subsets of said IP cores associated with a given sub-cluster are configured for selective coupling to one or more of said third level communication hubs.

7. The SOC device of claim 6 , further comprising:

a given one of said third level communication hubs is centrally located with respect to a subset of said IP cores associated therewith;

a given one of said second level communication hubs of an associated sub-cluster is centrally located with respect to said third level communication hubs in said associated sub-cluster; and

a given one of said first level communication hubs is centrally located with respect to a subset of sub-clusters associated therewith.

8. The SOC device of claim 6 , wherein connections between said one or more first level communication hubs and said one or more external circuit devices have a higher bandwidth capability than connections between said individual functional selected said IP cores and said third level communication hubs.

9. The SOC device of claim 6 , wherein individual functional selected said IP cores within a given sub-cluster are of varying sizes and shapes.

10. The SOC device of claim 6 , wherein one or more of said individual functional selected said IP cores are configured for selective connection to external input/output devices.

11. A method for implementing a customizable integrated circuit (IC) architecture, the method comprising:

configuring a library of intellectual property (IP) cores to provide a plurality of individual circuit functions;

arranging said IP cores so as to enable a customized, functional selection of individual ones of said IP cores;

wherein individually functional selected said IP cores are accessible through a star based communication structure included within said library, wherein configuring the star based communication structure further comprises:

configuring one or more first level communication hubs for communication with one or more external circuit devices with respect to said library;

configuring a plurality of sub-clusters in communication with each of said first level communication hubs, through second level communication hubs;

said plurality of sub-clusters further comprising a plurality of third level communication hubs in communication with a corresponding one of said second level communication hubs; and

configuring subsets of said IP cores associated with a given sub-cluster for selective coupling to one or more of said third level communication hubs.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

centrally locating a given one of said third level communication hubs with respect to a subset of said IP cores associated therewith;

centrally locating a given one of said second level communication hubs of an associated sub-cluster with respect to said third level communication hubs in said associated sub-cluster; and

centrally locating a given one of said first level communication hubs with respect to a subset of sub-clusters associated therewith.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein connections between said one or more first level communication hubs and said one or more external circuit devices have a higher bandwidth capability than connections between said individual functional selected said IP cores and said third level communication hubs.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein individual functional selected said IP cores within a given sub-cluster are of varying sizes and shapes.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising configuring one or more of said individual functional selected said IP cores for selective connection to external input/output devices.