Nxp Usa, Inc.

Freescale Semiconductor,inc.

Graham Edmiston

Hezi Rahamim

Bo Lin

Heinz Klaus Richard Wrobel

Alan Devine

James Andrew Collier Scobie

Amir Yosha

David McMenamin

Haim Ben-Lulu

Aviram Hertzberg

Andrew Robertson

Arthur Stuart Mackay

Dennis Martyn Gallop

Andrew Roberston

A heterogeneous multi-processor device having a first processor component arranged to issue a data access command request, a second processor component arranged to execute a set of threads, a task scheduling component arranged to schedule the execution of threads by the second processor component, and an internal memory component. In response to the data access command request being issued by the first processor component, the task scheduling component is arranged to wait for activities relating to the indicated subset of threads to finish, and when the activities relating to the indicated subset of threads have finished to load a command thread for execution by the second processor component, the command thread being arranged to cause the second processor component to read the indicated data from the at least one region of memory and make the read data available to the first processor component.

Heterogeneous multi-processor device and method of enabling coherent data access within a heterogeneous multi-processor device

The invention relates to network interface module and a method of changing network configuration parameters on-the-fly within a network device. The network interface module comprises: a processor core arranged to execute a set of threads, the set of threads comprising a port servicing thread arranged to service requests received from a network port of the network interface module; and a task scheduling component arranged to schedule the execution of threads by the processor core. The network interface module is arranged to receive an indication that at least one network configuration parameter for the network port is required to be changed, and upon receipt of such an indication to mask the port servicing thread from being executed by the processor core, and enable the at least one network parameter for the network port to be changed whilst the port servicing thread is masked.

Network interface module and a method of changing network configuration parameters within a network device

There is provided a network interface module, and a method of implementing deterministic response frame transmission therein. The network interface module comprises a processor core arranged to execute a set of threads, the set of threads comprising at least one transmit thread arranged to cause a response frame to be transmitted upon expiry of a minimum response period from a response triggering event occurring. The network interface module further comprises a timing component arranged to output a masking timeout signal indicating expiration of successive masking timeout intervals, and a masking component arranged to mask the transmit thread from being scheduled for execution by the processing core. The masking component being further arranged to receive the masking timeout signal output by the timing component and to unmask the transmit thread upon expiry of a masking timeout interval.

Method and apparatus for implementing deterministic response frame transmission

Apparatus suitable for detecting a fault in a processor comprises a monitor which receives input and output signals from the processor and generates a hash index key which is used to access entries in a hash table. The entries may include actions such as setting a timer so that the response of an output to a change of state of an input may be confirmed as valid within a specified time interval.

Fault detection apparatus and method

A multi-port transmitter device for transmitting at least partly redundant data is described. The multi-port transmitter device comprises at least two transmitters comprising respective transmitter buffers. One transmitter is a master transmitter that issues a request to the processor to provide a data block when the transmitter buffer of the master transmitter has free space to store a data block. The processor is arranged to copy at least one data block of data stored in an external memory from the external memory to respective positions in a local buffer. The processor is arranged to, in accordance with a predefined sequence, sequentially initiate transfer of the data block from the respective position of the data block in the local buffer to the transmitter buffers of the at least two transmitters in response to a request from the master transmitter to provide a data block.

Multi-port transmitter device for transmitting at least partly redundant data, an associated control system, an associated method and an associated computer program product

A real-time distributed network module arranged to provide an interface between at least one master application and at least one real-time distributed network. The real-time distributed network module comprises a first communications component arranged to transmit and receive real-time distributed network data over at least a first real-time distributed network connection, at least one further communications component arranged to transmit and receive real-time distributed network data over at least one further real-time distributed network connection at least one master application interface component arranged to provide an interface to the at least one master application, and at least one configuration component arranged to perform mapping of communication channels between the first communications component, the at least one further communications component and the at least one master application interface component. The at least one configuration component is further arranged to perform dynamic remapping of the communication channels between the first communications component, the at least one further communications component and the at least one master application interface, upon detection of a link failure within the real-time distributed network.

Real-time distributed network module, real-time distributed network and method therefor

A real-time distributed network slave module is described. The real-time distributed network slave module comprises a first communications component arranged to transmit and receive real-time distributed network data over at least a first real-time distributed network connection, at least one further communications component arranged to transmit and receive real-time distributed network data over at least one further real-time distributed network connection, and at least one processing component. The at least one real-time distributed network slave module is selectively configurable to operate in a first processing mode in which the at least one processing component is configured to process real-time distributed network data travelling in a first direction between the first and at least one further communications components, and at least one further processing mode in which the at least one processing component is configured to process real-time distributed network data travelling in at least one further direction between the first and at least one further communications components.

Real-time distributed network slave device, real-time distributed network and method therefor

Apparatuses, methods, and systems are configured to perform unambiguous parameter sampling in a heterogeneous multi-core or multi-threaded environment by masking one or more thread requests; and, in response to bus activity ceasing for the one or more masked thread requests and completing any routine being processed for the one or more masked threads, processing a command by executing at least one of a command routine or a command thread, wherein the command routine or the command thread reads the parameter using thread atomicity with deterministic synchronization. One or more thread requests may be selected for masking by monitoring thread activity for each of a plurality of threads.

Method, apparatus, and system for unambiguous parameter sampling in a heterogeneous multi-core or multi-threaded processor environment

The disclosure relates to cut-through forwarding module, an integrated circuit, a semiconductor device and a method of receiving and transmitting data frames in a cut-through forwarding mode. The cut-through forwarding module processes received data frames in data blocks. The module comprises a pre-loading unit for storing a first data block of a received data frame. The stored first data block may be pre-loaded by the pre-loading unit in a transmitter unit before a receiver unit receives a subsequent data frame. The processing unit controls the transfer of a first data block to the pre-loading unit and controls the use of a pre-loaded data block as a first data block of a data frame to be transmitted.

Cut-through forwarding module and a method of receiving and transmitting data frames in a cut-through forwarding mode

An electronic device has a runtime integrity checker for monitoring contents of storage locations in an address range. The runtime integrity checker has a location selector for selecting the storage locations by generating addresses within the address range for locations to be checked, an interface unit coupled to the location selector for receiving the addresses for accessing the locations to be checked via a bus interface, and a processor coupled to the interface unit for retrieving the contents from the locations to be checked. A mask unit is provided for processing a mask for defining the locations to be checked based on bits in the mask. The hardware enables selective monitoring of non contiguous storage locations or data areas.

Electronic device having a runtime integrity checker

An interface system has a first media access controller having a first MAC buffer for storing at least one first-type frame in a first frame format according to a first communication protocol. A time synchronization module is arranged to, upon detecting the start of the first-type frame, determine a first timestamp from a master clock signal and latch the first timestamp into a first timestamp register. A processor is arranged to: retrieve the first timestamp from the first timestamp register, and transfer a first-type frame between the first MAC buffer and a first local memory in a block-wise manner as a plurality of blocks. The processor is arranged to process the plurality of blocks of the first-type frame using the first timestamp as retrieved from the first timestamp register.

Interface system and method

An integrated circuit device includes a cut-through forwarding module. The cut-through forwarding module includes at least one receiver component arranged to receive data to be forwarded, and at least one transmitter component arranged to transmit data stored within at least one transmitter buffer thereof. The cut-through forwarding module further includes at least one delimiter component arranged to trigger a transmission of frame data within the at least one transmitter buffer, upon receipt of a first number elements of a respective data frame by the at least one receiver component, the first number of data elements comprising a first predefined integer value.

Integrated circuit device and method of performing cut-through forwarding of packet data

An electronic device communicates according to a network protocol that defines data packets, for example EtherCAT. The device has a processor for performing input control on incoming data packets and performing output control on outgoing data packets, and a shared FIFO buffer comprising a multiuser memory. An input unit receives input data, detects the start of a respective data packet, subdivides the data packet into consecutive segments, one segment having a predetermined number of data bytes, and transfers the segment to the FIFO buffer before the next segment has been completely received. The processor accesses, in the input control, the multiuser memory for processing the segment, and, in the output control, initiates outputting the output packet before the corresponding input data packet has been completely received. An output unit transfers the segment from the FIFO buffer, and transmits the segment to the communication medium.

Method for cut through forwarding data packets between electronic communication devices

An integrated circuit device comprising at least one cut-through forwarding module. The cut-through forwarding module comprises at least one receiver component arranged to receive data to be forwarded, and to generate a request for transmission of a block of data upon receipt thereof, and at least one controller unit arranged to execute at least one thread for processing requests generated by the at least one receiver component. The at least one controller unit is arranged to set a priority context for the at least one thread, and to schedule an execution of the at least one thread based at least partly on the priority context therefor.

Integrated circuit device and methods for performing cut-through forwarding

An error correction apparatus comprises an input for receiving data. The received data includes error-check data. The apparatus also includes a processing resource arranged to calculate parity check data. A data store is coupled to the processing resource for storing look-up data for identifying, when in use, a location of an error in the received data. The look-up data is a compressed form of indexed error location data.

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Bridge of Weir, United Kingdom

Graham Edmiston