DFxNoC—a multi-protocol, multi-cast, and multi-root network-on-chip with dynamic resource allocation

A method, comprising:

• configuring a first root device and a first subset of end-points EPs of an integrated circuit (IC) device, via a dedicated parameter path of the IC device, to communicate with one another based on a first one of multiple protocols;
• configuring switches of an interconnect of the IC device, via the dedicated parameter path, to provide first data transmit paths, first data response paths, and first clock paths between the first root device and the first subset of the EPs;
• routing first data from the first root device to the first subset of EPs via the first data transmit paths, based on the first protocol;
• routing a first clock from the first root device to the first subset of EPs via the first clock paths;
• routing first response data from the first subset of EPs to the first root device via the first data response paths, based on the first protocol;
• configuring the first root device and a second subset of the EPs, via the dedicated parameter path, to communicate with one another based on a second one of the protocols;
• configuring the switches of the interconnect, via the dedicated parameter path, to provide second data transmit paths, second data response paths, and second clock paths between the root device and the second subset of the EPs;
• routing second data from the root device to the second subset of the EPs via the second data transmit paths, based on the second protocol;
• routing a second clock from the root device to the second subset of the EPs via the second clock paths;
• and
• routing second response data from the second subset of the EPs to the root device via the second data response paths, based on the second protocol.

An integrated circuit (IC) device, comprising:

• a plurality of end-points (EPs) that comprise functional circuitry;
• a first root device;
• an interconnect comprising configurable multi-port switch circuits and links amongst the multi-port switch circuits, the first root device, and the EPs;
• and
• control circuitry configured to:
• configure the first root device and a first subset of the EPs, via a dedicated parameter path, to communicate with one another based on a first one of multiple protocols, and configure the multi-port switch circuits, via the dedicated parameter path, to provide first data transmit paths, first data response paths, and first clock paths between the first root device and the first subset of the EPs;
• and
• configure the first root device and a second subset of the EPs, via the dedicated parameter path, to communicate with one another based on a second one of the protocols, and re-configure the multi-port switch circuits, via the dedicated parameter path, to provide second data transmit paths, second data response paths, and second clock paths between the first root device and the second subset of the EPs;
• wherein the first root device is configured to provide first data and a first clock to the first subset of the EPs via the first data transmit paths and the first clock paths, respectively, and to receive first response data from the first subset of the EPs via the first data response paths;
• and
• wherein the first root device is further configured to provide second data and a second clock to the second subset of EPs via the second data transmit paths and the second clock paths, respectively, and to receive second response data from the second set of EPs via the second clock paths.