Integrated circuit applications using partial reconfiguration
AssigneeAltera Corporation
InventorsJoshua Walstrom, Mark Bourgeault
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for generating and deploying integrated circuit (IC) applications are provided. Partial reconfiguration functionality of an IC may be used to build reconfigurable application platforms that enable application execution on the IC. These apps may include partial reconfiguration bitstreams that allow ease of access to programming without cumbersome compilation via a set of complex tools. The apps may be acquired via a purchasing website or other mechanism, where the bitstreams may be downloaded to the IC, thus increasing usability of the IC as well providing addition revenue streams.
Claims20
A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium, comprising instructions to:
- define one or more reconfigurable partial-reconfiguration bitstream application platforms, wherein the one or more reconfigurable partial-reconfiguration bitstream application platforms define one or more characteristics of an integrated circuit, comprising:
- one or more interconnects;
- one or more constraints for partial-reconfiguration logic used to execute one or more partial reconfiguration apps;
- or
- both;
- and
- publish the one or more reconfigurable partial-reconfiguration bitstream application platforms via an app store, app service, or both;
- wherein the one or more reconfigurable partial-reconfiguration bitstream application platforms configure an integrated circuit for executing the one or more partial reconfiguration apps, the one or more partial reconfiguration apps comprising one or more partial reconfiguration bitstreams intended to be executed according to the one or more characteristics to perform tasks of the one or more partial reconfiguration apps by reconfiguring, during runtime, reconfigurable attribute of the integrated circuit.
A system, comprising a processor configured to:
- publish one or more reconfigurable partial reconfiguration apps via an app store, app service, or both, for access by a plurality of integrated circuit licensees;
- wherein the one or more reconfigurable partial reconfiguration apps comprise one or more partial reconfiguration bitstreams intended to be executed according to one or more characteristics defined by a partial-reconfiguration bitstream application platform published via an app store, app service, or both;
- wherein the one or more characteristics comprise:
- one or more interconnects;
- one or more constraints for partial-reconfiguration logic used to execute one or more partial reconfiguration apps;
- or
- both;
- and
- wherein when the one or more partial reconfiguration bitstreams are implemented according to the one or more characteristics, they perform tasks of the one or more partial reconfiguration apps by reconfiguring, during runtime, one or more reconfigurable attributes of the integrated circuit.
A system, wherein the processor is configured to:
- publish, via an app store, an app service, or both, one or more software development kits (SDKs) that enable generation of partial reconfiguration apps that conform to one or more characteristics defined by on one or more reconfigurable partial-reconfiguration bitstream application platforms published via an app store, app service, or both;
- wherein the one or more reconfigurable partial reconfiguration apps comprise one or more partial reconfiguration bitstreams;
- wherein the one or more characteristics comprise:
- one or more interconnects;
- one or more constraints for partial-reconfiguration logic used to execute one or more partial reconfiguration apps;
- or
- both;
- and
- wherein when the one or more partial reconfiguration bitstreams are implemented according to the one or more characteristics, they perform tasks of the one or more partial reconfiguration apps by reconfiguring, during runtime, one or more reconfigurable attributes of the integrated circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.