Xilinx, Inc.

Stuart Alan Nisbet

Gareth David Edwards

Richard P Burnley

Robert Yin

Douglas Michael Grant

Hamish T Fallside

Martin B Rhodes

Nicholas McKay

Ting Yun Kao

Allan W Fyfe

David Taylor

Mark R Nethercot

Duncan Andrew Cockburn

A method of tuning an input/output (I/O) interface of a circuit design for a selected programmable integrated circuit can include determining whether the I/O interface meets a timing requirement and when the I/O interface does not meet the timing requirement, automatically adjusting a first timing setting of the I/O interface of the circuit design. The method can include iteratively determining whether the I/O interface meets the timing requirement, and responsive to each iteration, adjusting the first timing setting. The circuit design, including the adjusted first timing setting, can be output.

Automatic input/output timing adjustment flow for programmable integrated circuits

A receive-side client interface for a media access controller embedded in an integrated circuit having programmable circuitry is described. A media access controller core includes a receive engine. A receive-side datapath is coupled to the media access controller core. The receive-side datapath is configured to operate at two frequencies to accommodate the programmable circuitry in the integrated circuit.

Network media access controller embedded in a programmable device&#x2014;receive-side client interface

A media access system in an integrated circuit device having programmable resources for interfacing to a network. The media access system has at least one embedded media access controller configured to provide access to and from the network via a physical layer interface, programmable resources coupled to the embedded controller via a client interface, tie-off pin inputs coupled to the embedded controller for receiving a configuration vector for configuring the embedded controller without having to use a microprocessor for such configuration with the client interface being for communication between the embedded controller and the programmable resources for access to and from the network, and the embedded controller including a multi-mode interface coupled to the client interface for coupling to the programmable resources, the multi-mode interface including a plurality of Media Independent Interface modes, the multi-mode interface configured to be coupled to the physical layer interface.

Embedded network media access controller

A method and apparatus for improving enforcement of the time-limited operation of a programmable device. Two random number generators, e.g., linear feedback shift register (LFSR) circuits, are utilized in which a first LFSR provides free-running capability, while a second LFSR provides time-sensitive capability. The states of the two LFSR circuits are compared by various portions of the programmable device at each state transition in order to obtain authorization to continue operation. Authorized operation continues as long as the states of both LFSRs are equivalent, or at least equivalent, within a given phase offset. Once a terminal count of the time-sensitive LFSR is reached, then authorization for continued operation ends and at least a portion of the programmable device is disabled.

Method and apparatus for protection of time-limited operation of a circuit

A media access controller system embedded in an integrated circuit is described. A platform dependent bridge for communicating with a first processor, where the platform dependent bridge is associated with a platform of the first processor and where the first processor is embedded in an integrated circuit. Host interface circuitry is coupled to the platform dependent bridge and is configured to provide a processor interface, where the processor interface is for communicating with the first processor via the platform dependent bridge and where the processor interface has a platform independent bus for communication with a second processor. At least one media access controller is coupled to the host interface circuitry.

Network media access controller embedded in an integrated circuit host interface

Measuring transit time across an asynchronous first-in-first-out (FIFO) memory can include sampling an indication of a value of a read pointer of the FIFO memory at a sampling frequency that exceeds a frequency of a read clock and a write clock of the FIFO memory. An indication of a value of a write pointer of the FIFO memory can be sampled at the sampling frequency. For each sampling period, a measure of occupancy of the FIFO memory can be calculated according to a sampled pair including the indication of the value of the read pointer and the indication of the value of the write pointer. The measure of occupancy can be averaged over a predetermined number of cycles of the sampling frequency. The averaged measure of occupancy can be output as an indication of transit time across the FIFO memory.

Determining transit time across an asynchronous FIFO memory by measuring fractional occupancy

A transmit-side client interface for a media access controller embedded in an integrated circuit having programmable logic is described. A media access controller core includes a transmit engine. A transmit-side datapath is coupled to the media access controller core. The transmit-side datapath is configured to operate at two frequencies to accommodate the programmable logic in the integrated circuit.

Network media access controller embedded in a programmable logic device&#x2014;transmit-side client interface

A media access controller system embedded in a programmable logic device is described. A platform dependent bridge for communicating with a first processor, where the platform dependent bridge is associated with a platform of the first processor and where the first processor is embedded in a programmable logic device. Host interface circuitry is coupled to the platform dependent bridge and is configured to provide a processor interface, where the processor interface is for communicating with the first processor via the platform dependent bridge and where the processor interface has a platform independent bus for communication with a second processor. At least one media access controller is coupled to the host interface circuitry.

Network media access controller embedded in a programmable logic device&#x2014;host interface

A receive-side client interface for a media access controller embedded in an integrated circuit having programmable logic is described. A media access controller core includes a receive engine. A receive-side datapath is coupled to the media access controller core. The receive-side datapath configured is configured to operate at two frequencies to accommodate the programmable logic in the integrated circuit.

Network media access controller embedded in a programmable logic device&#x2014;receive-side client interface

A statistics interface for a media access controller is described. The media access controller core includes a receive engine configured to provide a receive statistics vector associated with receive traffic. The receive engine is configured to output the receive statistics vector within an inter-frame gap over a number of receive clock cycles, where a portion of the receive statistics vector is provided with each clock cycle of the receive clock cycles.

Network media access controller embedded in a programmable logic device&#x2014;statistics interface

An aspect of the invention is physical layer interface for a network interface including a plurality of input/output pins. The input/output pins are coupled for being multiplexed into a physical layer interface selected from among a Reduced Gigabit Media Independent Interface and a Gigabit Media Independent Interface. The input/output pins internal to a programmable logic device are for access to and from a processor block located in the programmable logic device.

Network media access controller embedded in a programmable logic device&#x2014;physical layer interface

Creating virtual extender plugins using MGTs (Multi-Gigabit Transceivers). A virtual extender plugin allows a user seamlessly to bridge between various FPGAs (Filed Programmable Logic Arrays) when designing and implementing electronic devices. These bridges, provided by these virtual extender plugins, allow for efficient use of various untapped resources within a device. For example, a given FPGA may employ virtual extender plugin(s) to access and use various untapped (or relatively lightly tapped) functionality of other FPGAs. These virtual extender plugins may be implemented according to a relatively wide variety of applications allowing the tapping of unused resources such as memory, microprocessor peripherals, LUTs (Look Up Tables), IOs (Input/Output devices and/or ports), memory, and embedded microprocessor blocks. Practically speaking, these virtual extender plugins actually 'plug in' to a standard or user-defined bus stream having a standardized/known type of serialized format such that every type of virtual extender plugin uses that same serialized format.

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Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Stuart Alan Nisbet