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.
Claims21
A method, comprising:
- providing, via a network service, a platform for implementing custom applications, wherein the platform comprises a definition of one or more constraints, defined by a platform developer, to be implemented in conjunction with a subsequently developed custom application, and wherein the platform is to be implemented in reconfigurable blocks of one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGA);
- receiving, at the network service, the custom application to be combined with the platform, wherein the one or more constraints of the platform define the one or more FPGA interfaces to be combined with the custom application, wherein the custom application is constrained to the definition when combined with the platform as a logic implementation on the one or more FPGAs;
- and
- generating, based upon data indicative of the custom application, a set of bits, wherein the set of bits, when implemented on the one or more FPGAs, cause implementation of the platform, the FPGA interfaces, and the custom application on the one or more FPGAs.
A tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
- provide, via a network service, a platform for implementing custom applications, wherein the platform comprises a definition of one or more constraints, defined by a platform developer, to be implemented in conjunction with a subsequently developed custom application, and wherein the platform is to be implemented in reconfigurable blocks of one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGA);
- receive, at the network service, the custom application to be combined with the platform, wherein the one or more constraints of the platform define the one or more FPGAs interfaces to be combined with the custom application, wherein the custom application is constrained to the definition when combined with the platform as a logic implementation on the one or more FPGAs;
- and
- generate, based upon data indicative of the custom application, a set of bits, wherein the set of bits, when implemented on the one or more FPGAs, cause implementation of the platform and the custom application on the one or more FPGAs.
A computing system, comprising:
- a cloud-based network-accessible storefront configured to:
- provide a platform for implementing custom applications, wherein the platform comprises a definition of one or more constraints, defined by a platform developer, to be implemented in conjunction with subsequently developed one or more custom applications, and wherein the platform is to be implemented in reconfigurable blocks of one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGA);
- receiving, at the network service, the one or more custom design applications to be combined with the platform, wherein the one or more constraints of the platform define the one or more FPGA interfaces to be combined with the one or more custom applications, wherein the one or more custom applications are constrained to the definition when combined with the platform as a logic implementation on the one or more FPGAs;
- receive a request for the one or more custom applications to be implemented on the one or more field programmable gate arrays FPGAs;
- and
- upon receiving the request, cause implementation of the platform and the one or more custom applications on the one or more FPGAs, by providing a set of bits comprising constraints of the one or more custom applications to the one or more FPGAs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.