Broadcom Corporation

Ethan A Mirsky

Robert S French

Ian Eslick

John R Nickolls

Lawrence John Madar, Iii

Scott David Johnson

Mark R Williams

Kambdur Kirthiranjan

Amrit Raj Pant

A method and an apparatus for configuring arbitrary sized data paths comprising multiple context processing elements (MCPEs) are provided. Multiple MCPEs may be chained to form wider-word data paths of arbitrary widths, wherein a first ALU serves as the most significant byte (MSB) of the data path while a second ALU serves as the least significant byte (LSB) of the data path. The ALUs of the data path are coupled using a left-going, or forward, carry chain for transmitting at least one carry bit from the LSB ALU to the MSB ALU. The MSB ALU comprises configurable logic for generating at least one signal in response to a carry bit received over the left-going carry chain, the at least one signal comprising a saturation signal and a saturation value. The MCPEs of the data path use configurable logic to manipulate a resident bit sequence in response to the saturation signal transmitted thereby reconfiguring, or changing the operation of, the data path in response to the saturation signal. The carry chains support carry operations for non-local functions comprising minimum and maximum arithmetic functions.

Method and apparatus for configuring arbitrary sized data paths comprising multiple context processing elements

A method and an apparatus for retiming in a network of multiple context processing elements in a network of multiple context processing elements are provided. A programmable delay element is configured to programmably delay signals between a number of multiple context processing elements of an array without requiring a multiple context processing element to implement the delay. The output of a first multiple context processing element is coupled to a first multiplexer and to the input of a number of serially connected delay registers. The output of each of the serially connected registers is coupled to the input of a second multiplexer. The output of the second multiplexer is coupled to the input of the first multiplexer, and the output of the first multiplexer is coupled to a second multiple context processing element. The first and second multiplexers are provided with at least one set of data representative of at least one configuration memory context of a multiple context processing element. The first and second multiplexers are controlled to select one of a number of delay durations in response to the received set of data. A delay is programmed in the network structure in response to a data type being transferred between particular multiple context processing elements.

Method and apparatus for retiming in a network of multiple context processing elements

A method and apparatus for providing local control of processing elements in a network of multiple context processing elements (MCPEs). A MCPE stores configuration memory contexts and maintains data of a current configuration. State information is received from at least one other MCPE. A configuration control signal is generated in response to the state information and current configuration data. A MCPE is selected in response to the configuration control signal to control the MCPE. Each MCPE in the networked array has an assigned physical and virtual identification. Data comprising control data, configuration data, an address mask, and a destination identification is transmitted to a MCPE. The transmitted address mask is applied to either a physical or a virtual identification, and to a destination identification. The masked physical or virtual identification is compared to the masked destination identification. When the masked physical or virtual identification matches the masked destination identification, a MCPE is manipulated in response to the transmitted data by selecting one of a number of configuration memory contexts to control the functioning of the MCPE.

Controlling multiple context processing elements based on transmitted message containing configuration data, address mask, and destination indentification

A method and an apparatus for configuration of multiple context processing elements (MCPEs) are described. The method and an apparatus is capable of selectively transmitting data over a bidirectional shared bus network including a plurality of channels between pairs of MCPEs in the networked array. The method and an apparatus then selectively transmits a sideband bit indicating a direction in which the data is transmitted in the shared bus network.

Multi-channel bi-directional bus network with direction sideband bit for multiple context processing elements

A memory management system provides the ability for multiple requesters to access blocks of memory in a pipelined manner. During a first clock, requests for one or more of the memory blocks are received by the system. A determination is made of whether one of the memory blocks is requested by one or more requests. If the same memory block is requested by two or more requests, the system performs a further determination of which of the requests will be provided to the memory block. The determined request is provided to the memory block on the first clock. During a second clock, the data of the determined request is latched to the memory block and a memory access is initiated. If the request is a write request, the data is written to the memory block. If the request is a read request, then the requested data is retrieved and, on a third clock, the data is driven onto a bus, routed to the determined requester, and available to be latched into the requester on the fourth clock.

Pipelined multi-access memory apparatus and method

A reconfigurable processing system executes instructions and configurations in parallel. Initially, a first instruction loads configurations into configuration registers. The configuration field of a subsequently fetched instruction selects a configuration register. The instruction controls and controls of the configuration in the selected configuration register are decoded and modified as specified by the instruction. The controls provide data operands to the execution units which process the operands and generate results. Scalar data, vector data, or a combination of scalar and vector data can be processed. The processing is controlled by instructions executed in parallel with configurations invoked by configuration fields within the instructions. Vectors are processed using a vector register file which stores vectors. A vector address unit identifies addresses of vector elements in the vector register file to be processed. For each vector, vector address units provide addresses which stride through each element of each vector.

Reconfigurable processing system and method

Local control of multiple context processing elements with configuration contexts

A method and an apparatus for configuration of multiple context processing elements (MCPEs)are described. According to one aspect of the invention, the structure that joins the MCPE cores into a complete array in one embodiment is actually a set of several mesh-like interconnect structures. Each interconnect structure forms a network, and each network is independent in that it uses different paths, but the networks join at MCPE input switches. The network structure of one embodiment of the present invention is comprised of a local area broadcast network (level 1), a switched interconnect network (level 2), a shared bus network (level 3), and a broadcast network. In one embodiment, the level 3 network is used to carry configuration data for the MCPEs while the broadcast network is used to carry configuration data for the level 3 network drivers and switches. In one embodiment, the level 3 network is bidirectional and dynamically routable.

Three level direct communication connections between neighboring multiple context processing elements

A method and an apparatus for configuring arbitrary sized data paths comprising multiple context processing elements (MCPEs) are provided. Multiple MCPEs may be chained to form wider-word data paths of arbitrary widths, wherein a first ALU serves as the most significant byte (MSB) of the data path while a second ALU serves as the least significant byte (LSB) of the data path. The ALUs of the data path are coupled using a left-going, or forward, carry chain for transmitting at least one carry bit from the LSB ALU to the MSB ALU. The MSB ALU comprises configurable logic for generating at least one signal in response to a carry bit received over the left-going carry chain, the at least one signal comprising a saturation signal and a saturation value. The MCPEs of the data path use configurable logic to manipulate a resident bit sequence in response to the saturation signal transmitted thereby reconfiguring, or changing the operation of, the data path in response to he saturation signal. The carry chains support carry operations for non-local functions comprising minimum and maximum arithmetic operations.

A method and apparatus for providing local control of processing elements in a network of multiple context processing element are provided. A multiple context processing element is configured to store a number of configuration memory contexts. This multiple context processing element maintains data of a current configuration. State information is received from at least one other multiple context processing element. At least one configuration control signal is generated in responses to the state information and the data of a current configuration. One of multiple configuration memory contexts is selected in response to the configuration control signal, the selected configuration memory context controlling the multiple context processing element. Each multiple context processing element in the networked array of multiple context processing elements has an assigned physical and virtual identification. Data is transmitted to at least one of the multiple context processing elements of the array, the data comprising control data, configuration data, an address mask, and a destination identification. The transmitted address mask is applied to either the physical or virtual identification and to a destination identification. The masked physical or virtual identification is compared to the masked destination identification. When the masked physical or virtual identification of a multiple context processing element matches the masked destination identification, at least one of the number of multiple context processing elements are manipulated in response to the transmitted data. Manipulation comprises selecting one of a number of configuration memory contexts to control the functioning of the multiple context processing element.

Local control of multiple context processing elements with major contexts and minor contexts

A method and an apparatus for retiming in a network of multiple context processing elements are provided. A programmable delay element is configured to programmably delay signals between a number of multiple context processing elements of an array without requiring a multiple context processing element to implement the delay. The output of a first multiple context processing element is coupled to a first multiplexer and to the input of a number of serially connected delay registers. The output of each of the serially connected delay registers is coupled to the input of a second multiplexer. The output of the second multiplexer is coupled to the input of the first multiplexer, and the output of the first multiplexer is coupled to a second multiple context processing element. The first and second multiplexers are provided with at least one set of data representative of at least one configuration memory context of a multiple context processing element. The first and second multiplexers are controlled to select one of a number of delay durations in response to the received set of data. A delay is programmed in the network structure in response to a data type being transferred between particular multiple context processing elements.

A method and apparatus for providing local control of processing elements in a network of multiple context processing element are provided. A multiple context processing element is configured to store a number of configuration memory contexts. This multiple context processing element maintains data of a current configuration. State information is received from at least one other multiple context processing element. At least one configuration control signal is generated in response to the state information and the data of a current configuration. One of multiple configuration memory contexts is selected in response to the configuration control signal, the selected configuration memory context controlling the multiple context processing element. Each multiple context processing element in the networked array of multiple context processing elements has an assigned physical and virtual identification. Data is transmitted to at least one of the multiple context processing elements of the array, the data comprising control data, configuration data, an address mask, and a destination identification. The transmitted address mask is applied to either the physical or virtual identification and to a destination identification. The masked physical or virtual identification is compared to the masked destination identification. When the masked physical or virtual identification of a multiple context processing element matches the masked destination identification, at least one of the number of multiple context processing elements are manipulated in response to the transmitted data. Manipulation comprises selecting one of a number of configuration memory contexts to control the functioning of the multiple context processing element.

Method and apparatus for controlling contexts of multiple context processing elements in a network of multiple context processing elements

A method and an apparatus for configuring arbitrary sized data paths comprising multiple context processing elements (MCPEs) are provided. Multiple MCPEs may be chained to form wider-word data paths of arbitrary widths. The ALUs of the data path are coupled using a carry chain for transmitting at least one carry bit from the LSB ALU to the MSB ALU. The MSB ALU comprises configurable logic for generating a signal in response to a carry bit received over the carry chain, the signal comprises a saturation signal and a saturation value. The saturation signal is generated using logic that tests for saturation in the data path. The ALUs of the data path are further coupled using a right-going carry chain for transmitting the saturation signal back down the data path. The saturation signal is transmitted from the MSB ALU through the ALUs of the data path to the LSB ALU using a first back propagation channel. A signal that selects a saturation value is transmitted from the MSB ALU to the LSB ALU using a second back propagation channel. The MCPEs of the data path use configurable logic to manipulate a resident bit sequence in response to the saturation signal transmitted thereby reconfiguring, or changing the operation of, the data path in response to the saturation signal. The carry chains support carry operations for non-local functions comprising minimum and maximum arithmetic functions.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Ethan A Mirsky