BACKBONE NETWORK-ON-CHIP (NOC) FOR FIELD-PROGRAMMABLE GATE ARRAY (FPGA)

Abstract

Methods and example implementations described herein are generally directed to Field-Programmable Gate-Arrays (FPGAs) or other programmable logic devices (PLDs) or other devices based thereon, and more specifically, to the addition of networks-on-chip (NoC) to FPGAs. This includes both modifications to the FPGA architecture and design flow. An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a Field-Programmable Gate-Array (FPGA) system. The FPGA system can include an FPGA having one or more lookup tables (LUTs) and wires, and a Network-on-Chip (NoC) having a hardened network topology configured to provide connectivity at a higher frequency that the FPGA. The NoC is coupled to the FPGA to provide a connectivity at a higher frequency that the FPGA.

Claims

1. A Field-Programmable Gate-Array (FPGA) system, comprising: an FPGA comprising one or more lookup tables (LUTs) and wires; and a Network-on-Chip (NoC), coupled to the FPGA, comprising a hardened network topology configured to provide connectivity at a higher frequency that the FPGA, wherein the NoC is configured to packetize and transport data between one or more of inputs/outputs (I/Os), memories, and soft intellectual properties (IPs) implemented on the FPGA.

2. The FPGA system of claim 1, wherein the NoC comprises a mechanism for being configured by software to modify one or more functions associated with the NoC.

3. The FPGA system of claim 2, wherein the one or more functions of the NoC are associated with one or any combination of a quality of service (QoS), priority, virtual channel (VC) allocation, rate limits, buffer sizing, and layer/physical channel assignment.

4. The FPGA system of claim 2, wherein the mechanism is a programmable register or drivable wires indicative of the function modification.

5. The FPGA system of claim 1, wherein the NoC comprises virtual channel (VC) and physical layers allocated based at least on quality of service (QoS), latency, bandwidth requirements, number of inputs/outputs (I/Os), memories, and soft intellectual properties (IPs) that are connected to the NoC.

6. The FPGA system of claim 1, wherein the NoC comprises one or more bridges configured to support multiple protocols.

7. The FPGA system of claim 1, wherein the NoC comprises one or more bridges configured based at least on one or more requirements of a user or the FPGA system.

8. The FPGA system of claim 1, wherein the NoC comprises one or more bridges configured to operate according to a soft logic.

9. The FPGA system of claim 1, wherein the NoC comprises one or more bridges configured to operate at least in a protocol part and a packet switching part.

10. The FPGA system of claim 1, wherein the NoC comprises at least a programmable decoding element configured to determine one or any combination of a route, a layer and destination information from one or more messages transported over the NoC.

11. A method comprising: generating, for a Field-Programmable Gate-Array (FPGA) a Network-on-Chip (NoC) configured to facilitate connectivity at a higher frequency that the FPGA, wherein the NoC is configured to packetize and transport data between one and more of inputs/outputs (I/Os), memories, and soft intellectual properties (IPs) implemented on the FPGA.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the FPGA comprises one or more lookup tables (LUTs) and wires.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the NoC comprises a mechanism for being configured by software to modify one or more functions associated with the NoC.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more functions of the NoC are associated with one or any combination of a quality of service (QoS), priority, virtual channel (VC) allocation, rate limits, buffer sizing, and layer/physical channel assignment.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the mechanism is a programmable register or drivable wires indicative of the function modification.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the NoC comprises virtual channel (VC) and physical layers allocated based at least on quality of service (QoS), latency, bandwidth requirements, number of inputs/outputs (I/Os), memories, and soft intellectual properties (IPs) that are connected to the NoC.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the NoC comprises one or more bridges configured to support multiple protocols.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the NoC comprises one or more bridges configured based at least on one or more requirements of a user or the FPGA system.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the NoC comprises one or more bridges configured to operate according to a soft logic.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the NoC comprises one or more bridges configured to operate at least in a protocol part and a packet switching part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0050] FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D illustrate examples of Bidirectional ring, 2D Mesh, 2D Torus, and 3D Mesh NoC Topologies.

[0051] FIG. 2A illustrates an example of XY routing in a related art two dimensional mesh.

[0052] FIG. 2B illustrates three different routes between a source and destination nodes.

[0053] FIG. 3A illustrates an example of a related art two layer NoC interconnect.

[0054] FIG. 3B illustrates the related art bridge logic between host and multiple NoC layers.

[0055] FIG. 4A illustrates a 1 Bit adder in FPGA.

[0056] FIG. 4B illustrates an FPGA comprising lookup tables (LUTs) and programmable wires.

[0057] FIG. 4C illustrates a flow diagram for connecting LUTs using programmable wires as shown in FIG. 4B.

[0058] FIG. 5 illustrates a Field-Programmable Gate-Array (FPGA) system having soft logic and hardened logic.

[0059] FIG. 6 illustrates a Field-Programmable Gate-Array (FPGA) system having an FPGA and a NoC.

[0060] FIG. 7 illustrates an example computer system on which example example implementations may be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] The following detailed description provides further details of the figures and example implementations of the present application. Reference numerals and descriptions of redundant elements between figures are omitted for clarity. Terms used throughout the description are provided as examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the use of the term automatic may involve fully automatic or semi-automatic implementations involving user or administrator control over certain aspects of the implementation, depending on the desired implementation of one of ordinary skill in the art practicing implementations of the present application. Example implementations may be utilized in singular or in combination with other example implementations described herein to facilitate the desired implementation.

[0062] Network-on-Chip (NoC) has emerged as a paradigm to interconnect a large number of components on the chip. NoC is a global shared communication infrastructure made up of several routing nodes interconnected with each other using point-to-point physical links. In example implementations, a NoC interconnect is generated from a specification by utilizing design tools. The specification can include constraints such as bandwidth/Quality of Service (QoS)/latency attributes that is to be met by the NoC, and can be in various software formats depending on the design tools utilized. Once the NoC is generated through the use of design tools on the specification to meet the specification requirements, the physical architecture can be implemented either by manufacturing a chip layout to facilitate the NoC or by generation of a register transfer level (RTL) for execution on a chip to emulate the generated NoC, depending on the desired implementation. Specifications may be in common power format (CPF), Unified Power Format (UPF), or others according to the desired specification. Specifications can be in the form of traffic specifications indicating the traffic, bandwidth requirements, latency requirements, interconnections, etc. depending on the desired implementation. Specifications can also be in the form of power specifications to define power domains, voltage domains, clock domains, and so on, depending on the desired implementation.

[0063] Methods and example implementations described herein are generally directed to Field-Programmable Gate-Arrays (FPGAs) or other programmable logic devices (PLDs) or other devices based thereon, and more specifically, to the addition of networks-on-chip (NoC) to FPGAs. This includes both modifications to the FPGA architecture and design flow.

[0064] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods, systems, and computer readable mediums for overcoming the above-mentioned issues with existing implementations of generating topology for a given SoC by significantly improving system efficiency by facilitating efficient creation of SoC designs utilizing existing or new circuit block information. The system and method provides a programmable fabric and a communication network integrated with the programmable fabric for high-speed data passing.

[0065] An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a Field-Programmable Gate-Array (FPGA) system. The FPGA system can include an FPGA having one or more lookup tables (LUTs) and wires, and a Network-on-Chip (NoC) having a hardened network topology configured to provide connectivity at a higher frequency that the FPGA. The NoC is coupled to the FPGA to provide a connectivity at a higher frequency that the FPGA.

[0066] In an aspect, the NoC is configured to packetize and transport data between inputs/outputs (I/Os), memories, and soft intellectual properties (IPs) implemented on the FPGA.

[0067] In an aspect, the NoC includes a mechanism for being configured by software to modify one or more functions associated with the NoC. In another aspect, the one or more functions of the NoC are associated with any of combination quality of service (QoS), priority, virtual channel (VC) allocation, rate limits, buffer sizing, and layer/physical channel assignment. In yet another aspect, the mechanism is a programmable register or drivable wires indicative of the function modification.

[0068] In an aspect, the NoC includes virtual channel (VC) and physical layers allocated based at least on quality of service (QoS), latency, bandwidth requirements, number of inputs/outputs (I/Os), memories, soft intellectual properties (IPs) that are connected to the NoC.

[0069] In an aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured to support multiple protocols.

[0070] In an aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured based at least on one or more requirements of a user or the FPGA system. In another aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured to operate according to a soft logic. In yet another aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured to operate at least in a protocol part and a packet switching part.

[0071] In an aspect, the NoC includes at least a programmable decoding element to determine any or combination of a route, a layer and destination information from one or more messages transported over the NoC.

[0072] An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for providing connectivity at a higher frequency that a Field-Programmable Gate-Array (FPGA) by a Network-on-Chip (NoC). The NoC packetizes and transports data between inputs/outputs (I/Os), memories, and soft intellectual properties (IPs) implemented on the FPGA.

[0073] In an aspect, the NoC is configured to packetize and transport data between inputs/outputs (I/Os), memories, and soft intellectual properties (IPs) implemented on the FPGA.

[0074] In an aspect, the NoC includes a mechanism for being configured by software to modify one or more functions associated with the NoC. In another aspect, the one or more functions of the NoC are associated with any of combination quality of service (QoS), priority, virtual channel (VC) allocation, rate limits, buffer sizing, and layer/physical channel assignment. In yet another aspect, the mechanism is a programmable register or drivable wires indicative of the function modification.

[0075] In an aspect, the NoC includes virtual channel (VC) and physical layers allocated based at least on quality of service (QoS), latency, bandwidth requirements, number of inputs/outputs (I/Os), memories, soft intellectual properties (IPs) that are connected to the NoC.

[0076] In an aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured to support multiple protocols.

[0077] In an aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured based at least on one or more requirements of a user or the FPGA system. In another aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured to operate according to a soft logic. In yet another aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured to operate at least in a protocol part and a packet switching part.

[0078] In an aspect, the NoC includes at least a programmable decoding element to determine any or combination of a route, a layer and destination information from one or more messages transported over the NoC.

[0079] An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for executing a process. The instructions include the steps of providing connectivity at a higher frequency that a Field-Programmable Gate-Array (FPGA) by a Network-on-Chip (NoC). The NoC packetizes and transports data between inputs/outputs (I/Os), memories, and soft intellectual properties (IPs) implemented on the FPGA.

[0080] The present application provides devices having a programmable fabric and a communication network integrated with the programmable fabric for high-speed data passing.

[0081] According to the invention, an FPGA incorporates one or more programmable NoCs or NoC components integrated within the FPGA fabric. In one example implementation, the NoC is used as system-level interconnect to connect computer and communication modules to one another and integrate large systems on the FPGA. The FPGA design flow is altered to target the NoC components either manually through designer intervention, or automatically. The computation and communication modules may be either constructed out of the FPGA's logic blocks block RAM modules, multipliers, processor cores, input/output (I/O) controllers, I/O ports or any other computation or communication modules that can be found on FPGAs or heterogeneous devices based thereon.

[0082] The NoC or NoCs added to the FPGA can include routers and links, and optionally fabric ports. Routers refer to any circuitry that switches and optionally buffers data from one port to another. NoC routers may consist of, but are not limited to, any of the following: crossbars, buffered crossbars, circuit-switched routers or packet-switched routers. Links are the connections between routers. In one example implementation, NoC links are constructed out of the conventional FPGA interconnect involving different-length wire segments and multiplexers. In another example implementation, NoC links include dedicated metal wiring between two router ports. Both example implementations of the NoC links may include buffers or pipeline registers. The fabric port connects the NoC to the FPGA fabric and thus performs two key bridging functions. The first function of the fabric port is width adaptation between the computation or communication module and the NoC. In one example implementation, this is implemented as a multiplexer, a demultiplexer and a counter to perform time-domain multiplexing (TDM) and demultiplexing. The second function is clock-domain crossing; in one example implementation this is implemented as an asynchronous first-in first-out (FIFO) queue. Although the NoC targets digital electronic systems, all or parts of the presented NoC can be replaced using an optical network on chip. The NoC can also be implemented on a separate die in a 3D die stack.

[0083] Changes to the FPGA design flow to target NoCs may be divided into two categories; logical design and physical design. The logical design step concerns the functional design of the implemented system. In the logical design step all or part of the designed system is made latency-insensitive by adding wrappers to the modules. The logical design step also includes generating the required interfaces to connect modules to a NoC and programming the NoC for use. Programming the NoC includes, but is not limited to the following: configuring the routers, assigning priorities to data classes, assigning virtual channels to data classes and specifying the routes taken through the NoC. The physical design flow then implements the output of the logical design step on physical circuitry. It includes mapping computation and communication modules to NoC routers, and floor planning the mentioned modules onto the FPGA device. Together, these architecture and design flow changes due to the addition of NoCs to FPGAs will raise the level of abstraction of system-level communication, making design integration of large systems simpler and more automated and making system-level interconnect more efficient.

[0084] In an example implementation, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is an integrated circuit designed to be configured by a customer or a designer after manufacturinghence field-programmable. The FPGA configuration is generally specified using a hardware description language (HDL), similar to that used for an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). (Circuit diagrams were previously used to specify the configuration, as they were for ASICs, but this is increasingly rare.)

[0085] FPGAs contain an array of programmable logic blocks, and a hierarchy of reconfigurable interconnects that allow the blocks to be wired together, like many logic gates that can be inter-wired in different configurations. Logic blocks can be configured to perform complex combinational functions, or merely simple logic gates (e.g., AND, XOR). In most FPGAs, logic blocks also include memory elements, which may be simple flip-flops or more complete blocks of memory.

[0086] FPGA includes a Lookup table (LUT) having bunch of inputs and bunch of outputs, wherein both inputs and outputs are programmable. Basically, one can configure input and output to achieve a specific/desired functioning. For example, if 1 Bit adder logic is to be implemented then there are four different logics i.e., (0, 0), (0, 1), (1, 0), (1, 1) and four different outputs. FIG. 4A 400 illustrates a 1 Bit adder in FPGA.

[0087] In an example implementation, the One-bit Full-Adder (FA) is used widely in systems with operations such as counter, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division etc. It is the basic core component of Arithmetic-Logic-Unit (ALU). Thus, the innovation and acceleration of FA means that the speed of the Central-Processor-Unit (CPU) and the speed of the whole system in general are accelerated. FA is a basic cell in the CPU and is so fundamental that changes to it are difficult to make. However, this cannot prevent researchers to try to increase the speed for FA.

[0088] In order to create one bit FA in the traditional methods, two's component gate must be used. This makes the circuit more complex, and when there is a subtraction of n bits, there should be an addition of n XOR gates. The FPGA device is becoming increasing popular, and the acceleration of the multiplexer and improvement in FPGA allow the configuration of the Look Up Table (LUT) in FPGA that functions as a memory or a logic functions. This especially allows the formation of many small LUT's inside a big LUT. New designs have the aim to increase the speed of FA based on LUT and Multiplexer.

[0089] Thus, FPGA works at the logic and tries to program the logic in the LUT by just exhaustively listing all the possible inputs and all the possible outputs. However, in a real system, there are many complex and many functionalities that need to be performed. Thus, multiple LUTs need to be internally connected to able to achieve multiple functions. However, to provide these connections in functionalities (programmable connections) there is a requirement of a programmable set of wires.

[0090] For example, an FPGA can involve many LUTs (e.g., hundreds of millions), involving wires grids of wires and cross-points of wires that needs to be programmed and connected to work in sync with each other. Thus, there are needs for connecting multiple small logics together via LUTs. Thus, the present disclosure is directed to a mechanism which facilitates connecting such FPGA's by way of programming. FIG. 4B 430 illustrates an FPGA involving lookup tables (LUTs) and programmable wires.

[0091] In an example implementation, as shown, LUT.sub.1 432 and LUT.sub.2 434 can be connected using programmable wires (cross-points) 436 to achieve connection to work in sync with each other.

[0092] FIG. 4C 460 illustrates a flow diagram for connecting LUTs using programmable wires as shown in FIG. 4B. In order to connect plurality of LUTs using programmable wires, in an example implementation at step 462, enables FPGA to receive Verilog, VHDL, C++ and other desired logics as inputs. At step 464, the FPGA compiles/elaborates the logic. At step 466, the FPGA divides the logic in smaller size/pieces. At step 468, the FPGA map slices to different LUTs. At step 470, the different LUTs are connected using wire programming.

[0093] However, while connecting the LUTs and programmable wires, there is a need to determine how many size/pieces of the logic need to be made, as well as determining how many connections are needed. If the size/pieces are too large, then the LUT mapping may not be possible. One of the biggest obstacles is that LUTs may be upgraded/programmed with high frequencies. However, the wires are normally not upgraded/programmed with high frequencies.

[0094] Thus, the LUT and wires implement soft logic since it is programmable and can be provided with less transparency and low frequency.

[0095] Example implementations of the present disclosure facilitate communication, which is required in FPGA, by packetizing the communication and transporting the communication over a hardened network that is present in the FPGA along with the soft logic. The present disclosure is directed to implementations to facilitate hardened logic (non-re-programmable) based on the soft logic. Such example implementations achieve a benefit by facilitating a higher frequency which is achieved by low latency and higher bandwidth for the same number of wires.

[0096] In example implementations, FPGAs are embedded/incorporated with NoCs wherein the NoCs give an ability to transfer packets from one point to other point.

[0097] Referring now to FIG. 5 a Field-Programmable Gate-Array (FPGA) 500 system having soft logic and hardened logic is illustrated. As shown, a soft logic can be implemented using programmable wires (cross-point) 502 and a hardened logic can be implemented using hardened NoC 504. The input packet entering in a FPGA 500 recited as input packet in a specific protocol format can be routed either through the programmable wires (cross-point) 502 or through the hardened NoC 504 to generate an output in the form of packet recited as input packet in same specific protocol format.

[0098] In an example implementation, the inputs can be received by from Ethernet interface, Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) interface, Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) interface, and the like.

[0099] In an example implementation, the input received can be in a particular specific protocol format having source and destination information which can directly routed to the destination without any alteration in the particular specific protocol format using a hardened network topology of the NoC. In another example implementation, the input received can be a particular specific protocol format having source but no destination information, cannot be directly routed to the destination but through using soft logic (cross-connection) and needs to be analyzed and then without any alteration in the particular specific protocol format routed to its destination.

[0100] In an example implementation, the packets coming in FPGA and going out are in the form of messages so they are suitable candidate over the hard NoC. The packets inside FPGA core assessing the memory can also be routed over the NoC.

[0101] In an example implementation, the present application allows the system to decide which packets are to be sent to NoC and which needs to be routed through FPGA. The packets which are in the form of messages and which has fixed source destination or rout to be followed can be routed through the NoC. More specifically, the messages which have specific details and destination are far away from each other passes through the NoC.

[0102] In an example implementation, in NoC there are bridges along with other sub-components. The bridges are used for receiving packets and convert the packet into NoC protocol format. Those bridges also have some cost for example in terms of area.

[0103] In an example implementation, a cost of a NoC is compared with the cost of a soft logic and if it is much greater than that of soft logic the NoC may not be as beneficial.

[0104] In an example implementation, bridges in the NoC are provided to support certain protocols. The bridges included in the NoC can have four exemplary design choices. First exemplary design choice is a superset bridge that can support all the protocols however such a bridge can be excessively large and not cost effective. Second exemplary design choice is a bridge which can be built based on the requirements/compatibility. The soft logic in this type is aware about the placement of the bridges to satisfy the requirements of sufficiency of the bridges for communications. Third exemplary design choice is to not implement as a hardened element, but rather involve bridges that include only soft logic. However, in such an implementation, even if the NoC is operating at higher frequency, the bridges may run at lower frequency. Fourth exemplary design choice for bridges is to divide bridges into protocol parts and packet switching parts so that packet switching can be hardened and the protocol part can be soft switching to provide an achievable performance.

[0105] In an example implementation, the topology for NoC depends on plurality of factors. A few of the exemplary factors can include but are not limited to types of applications that are being performed using the FPGA. For example, applications functionality can be examined to decide topology based on data/traffic flow for applications, message sizes, functions of the applications, distance of the applications, and so on depending on the desired implementation.

[0106] FIG. 6 600 illustrates a Field-Programmable Gate-Array (FPGA) system 602 having an FPGA 604 and a NoC 606. The FPGA system 602 can include an FPGA having one or more lookup tables (LUTs) and wires 604, and a Network-on-Chip (NoC) having a hardened network topology 606 configured to provide 608 connectivity at a higher frequency that the FPGA. The NoC is coupled to the FPGA to provide a connectivity at a higher frequency that the FPGA.

[0107] In an aspect, the NoC is configured to packetize and transport data between inputs/outputs (I/Os), memories, and soft intellectual properties (IPs) implemented on the FPGA.

[0108] In an aspect, the NoC includes a mechanism for being configured by software to modify one or more functions associated with the NoC. In another aspect, the one or more functions of the NoC are associated with any one or a combination of aquality of service (QoS), priority, virtual channel (VC) allocation, rate limits, buffer sizing, layer/physical channel assignment. In yet another aspect, the mechanism is a programmable register or drivable wires indicative of the function modification.

[0109] In an aspect, the NoC includes virtual channel (VC) and physical layers allocated based at least on quality of service (QoS), latency, bandwidth requirements, number of inputs/outputs (I/Os), memories, soft intellectual properties (IPs) that are connected to the NoC.

[0110] In an aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured to support multiple protocols.

[0111] In an aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured based at least on one or more requirements of a user or the FPGA system. In another aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured to operate according to a soft logic. In yet another aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured to operate at least in a protocol part and a packet switching part.

[0112] In an aspect, the NoC includes at least a programmable decoding element to determine any or combination of a route, a layer and destination information from one or more messages transported over the NoC.

[0113] An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for providing connectivity at a higher frequency that a Field-Programmable Gate-Array (FPGA) by a Network-on-Chip (NoC). The NoC packetizes and transports data between inputs/outputs (I/Os), memories, and soft intellectual properties (IPs) implemented on the FPGA.

[0114] In an aspect, the NoC is configured to packetize and transport data between inputs/outputs (I/Os), memories, and soft intellectual properties (IPs) implemented on the FPGA.

[0115] In an aspect, the NoC includes a mechanism for being configured by software to modify one or more functions associated with the NoC. In another aspect, the one or more functions of the NoC are associated with any of combination quality of service (QoS), priority, virtual channel (VC) allocation, rate limits, buffer sizing, and layer/physical channel assignment. In yet another aspect, the mechanism is a programmable register or drivable wires indicative of the function modification.

[0116] In an aspect, the NoC includes virtual channel (VC) and physical layers allocated based at least on quality of service (QoS), latency, bandwidth requirements, number of inputs/outputs (I/Os), memories, soft intellectual properties (IPs) that are connected to the NoC.

[0117] In an aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured to support multiple protocols.

[0118] In an aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured based at least on one or more requirements of a user or the FPGA system. In another aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured to operate according to a soft logic. In yet another aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured to operate at least in a protocol part and a packet switching part.

[0119] In an aspect, the NoC includes at least a programmable decoding element to determine any or combination of a route, a layer and destination information from one or more messages transported over the NoC.

[0120] FIG. 7 illustrates an example computer system on which example implementations may be implemented. This example system is merely illustrative, and other modules or functional partitioning may therefore be substituted as would be understood by those skilled in the art. Further, this system may be modified by adding, deleting, or modifying modules and operations without departing from the scope of the inventive concept.

[0121] In an aspect, computer system 700 includes a server 702 that may involve an I/O unit 708, storage 710, and a processor 704 operable to execute one or more units as known to one skilled in the art. The term computer-readable medium as used herein refers to any medium that participates in providing instructions to processor 704 for execution, which may come in the form of computer-readable storage mediums, such as, but not limited to optical disks, magnetic disks, read-only memories, random access memories, solid state devices and drives, or any other types of tangible media suitable for storing electronic information, or computer-readable signal mediums, which can include transitory media such as carrier waves. The I/O unit processes input from user interfaces 712 and operator interfaces 718 which may utilize input devices such as a keyboard, mouse, touch device, or verbal command

[0122] The server 702 may also be connected to an external storage 716, which can contain removable storage such as a portable hard drive, optical media (CD or DVD), disk media or any other medium from which a computer can read executable code. The server may also be connected an output device 718, such as a display to output data and other information to a user, as well as request additional information from a user. The connections from the server 702 to the user interface 712, the operator interface 714, the external storage 710, and the output device 718 may via wireless protocols, such as the 802.11 standards, Bluetooth or cellular protocols, or via physical transmission media, such as cables or fiber optics. The output device 718 may therefore further act as an input device for interacting with a user.

[0123] The processor 704 may execute one or more modules including includes a connectivity providing module 706 to provide connectivity at a higher frequency that a Field-Programmable Gate-Array (FPGA) by a Network-on-Chip (NoC). The NoC packetizes and transports data between inputs/outputs (I/Os), memories, and soft intellectual properties (IPs) implemented on the FPGA.

[0124] In an aspect, the NoC is configured to packetize and transport data between inputs/outputs (I/Os), memories, and soft intellectual properties (IPs) implemented on the FPGA.

[0125] In an aspect, the NoC includes a mechanism for being configured by software to modify one or more functions associated with the NoC. In another aspect, the one or more functions of the NoC are associated with any of combination quality of service (QoS), priority, virtual channel (VC) allocation, rate limits, buffer sizing, and layer/physical channel assignment. In yet another aspect, the mechanism is a programmable register or drivable wires indicative of the function modification.

[0126] In an aspect, the NoC includes virtual channel (VC) and physical layers allocated based at least on quality of service (QoS), latency, bandwidth requirements, number of inputs/outputs (I/Os), memories, soft intellectual properties (IPs) that are connected to the NoC.

[0127] In an aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured to support multiple protocols.

[0128] In an aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured based at least on one or more requirements of a user or the FPGA system. In another aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured to operate according to a soft logic. In yet another aspect, the NoC includes one or more bridges configured to operate at least in a protocol part and a packet switching part.

[0129] In an aspect, the NoC includes at least a programmable decoding element to determine any or combination of a route, a layer and destination information from one or more messages transported over the NoC.

[0130] Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the discussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as processing, computing, calculating, determining, displaying, or the like, can include the actions and processes of a computer system or other information processing device that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system's memories or registers or other information storage, transmission or display devices.

[0131] Example implementations may also relate to an apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, or it may include one or more general-purpose computers selectively activated or reconfigured by one or more computer programs. Such computer programs may be stored in a computer readable medium, such as a computer-readable storage medium or a computer-readable signal medium. A computer-readable storage medium may involve tangible mediums such as, but not limited to optical disks, magnetic disks, read-only memories, random access memories, solid state devices and drives, or any other types of tangible or non-transitory media suitable for storing electronic information. A computer readable signal medium may include mediums such as carrier waves. The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Computer programs can involve pure software implementations that involve instructions that perform the operations of the desired implementation.

[0132] Various general-purpose systems may be used with programs and modules in accordance with the examples herein, or it may prove convenient to construct a more specialized apparatus to perform desired method steps. In addition, the example implementations are not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the example implementations as described herein. The instructions of the programming language(s) may be executed by one or more processing devices, e.g., central processing units (CPUs), processors, or controllers.

[0133] As is known in the art, the operations described above can be performed by hardware, software, or some combination of software and hardware. Various aspects of the example implementations may be implemented using circuits and logic devices (hardware), while other aspects may be implemented using instructions stored on a machine-readable medium (software), which if executed by a processor, would cause the processor to perform a method to carry out implementations of the present disclosure. Further, some example implementations of the present disclosure may be performed solely in hardware, whereas other example implementations may be performed solely in software. Moreover, the various functions described can be performed in a single unit, or can be spread across a number of components in any number of ways. When performed by software, the methods may be executed by a processor, such as a general purpose computer, based on instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. If desired, the instructions can be stored on the medium in a compressed and/or encrypted format.

[0134] Moreover, other implementations of the present application will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the example implementations disclosed herein. Various aspects and/or components of the described example implementations may be used singly or in any combination. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as examples, with a true scope and spirit of the application being indicated by the following claims.