Dynamic improvement of a communication channel

An apparatus for improving a communication channel between a first integrated circuit (IC) and a second IC, comprising:

• a monitoring circuit configured to:
• monitor communication traffic on the communication channel, wherein the communication traffic comprises data packets associated with a hardware or software component in the first IC, the data packets being transmitted using an existing protocol over a plurality of links in the communication channel;
• obtain, from the hardware or software component, information indicating a transmission priority of individual data packets or individual links;
• and
• determine a modified protocol for the communication channel, wherein:
• the monitoring circuit is configured to select from among a plurality of available protocols to determine the modified protocol;
• the modified protocol changes a utilization of the plurality of links based on the transmission priority and such that a latency, bandwidth, power consumption, or link quality associated with the communication channel is improved in comparison to the existing protocol;
• the plurality of available protocols comprises a power improved protocol and a bandwidth improved protocol;
• the power improved protocol improves the power consumption by adjusting an operating frequency or voltage of at least one link already being used to transmit the communication traffic;
• and
• the monitoring circuit is configured to select the power improved protocol, the bandwidth improved protocol, or both the power improved protocol and the bandwidth improved protocol, for use across the plurality of links depending on a required bandwidth of the communication traffic;
• and
• a protocol modification circuit configured to:
• change the existing protocol for at least some of the links to the modified protocol.

A method to improve a communication channel between a first integrated circuit (IC) and a second IC, the method comprising, by the first IC:

• monitoring communication traffic on the communication channel, wherein the communication traffic comprises data packets associated with a hardware or software component in the first IC, the data packets being transmitted using an existing protocol over a plurality of links in the communication channel;
• obtaining, from the hardware or software component, information indicating a transmission priority of individual data packets or individual links;
• determining a modified protocol for the communication channel, wherein:
• determining the modified protocol comprises selecting from among a plurality of available protocols;
• the modified protocol changes a utilization of the plurality of links based on the transmission priority and such that a latency, bandwidth, power consumption, or link quality associated with the communication channel is improved in comparison to the existing protocol;
• the plurality of available protocols comprises a power improved protocol and a bandwidth improved protocol;
• the power improved protocol improves the power consumption by adjusting an operating frequency or voltage of at least one link already being used to transmit the communication traffic;
• and
• the power improved protocol, the bandwidth improved protocol, or both the power improved protocol and the bandwidth improved protocol, are selected for use across the plurality of links depending on a required bandwidth of the communication traffic;
• and
• changing the existing protocol for at least some of the links to the modified protocol.