US 12,717,992 B2 · Method and apparatus to enable CPU host-unaware dynamic FPGA reconfiguration

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to enabling operation of a field programmable gate array (FPGA) while preventing application quiescence during FPGA reconfiguration. In embodiments of the disclosure, proxy agent firmware may enable downstream transactions (e.g., PCIe transactions) to be serviced during reconfiguration of the FPGA. Programmable logic states (e.g., PCIe configuration states or memory-mapped input/output (MMIO) states) are saved in memory and maintained by the proxy agent (via a management controller running the proxy agent). Once the FPGA is reconfigured, the state may be restored to the FPGA's programmable logic, and the FPGA may operate on the current state of the transactions.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method, comprising:

receiving an indication that a programmable device is to transition from a user mode to a configuration mode;
in response to receiving the indication, storing one or more states managed by the programmable device in the user mode;
maintaining the one or more states via proxy handling circuitry while the programmable device is in the configuration mode, wherein maintaining the one or more states via the proxy handling circuitry comprises:
receiving memory mapped input/output state (MMIO) write commands;
and
storing the write commands in memory, the memory configured to update the programmable device when the programmable device transitions from configuration mode to user mode;
and
in response to receiving an indication that the programmable device transitions from the configuration mode to the user mode, restoring the one or more states to the programmable device.

5 more elements

A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of an electronic device to:

receive an indication that a programmable device is to transition from a user mode to a configuration mode;
in response to receiving the indication, store one or more states managed by the programmable device in the user mode;
maintain the one or more states via proxy handling circuitry while the programmable device is in the configuration mode in at least one of a full proxy mode, a full memory mapped input/output (MMIO) mode, or a partial MMIO mode, wherein:
in the full proxy mode, an MMIO state and a Peripheral Component Internet Express (PCIe) state of the programmable device are each handled by the proxy handling circuitry while the programmable device is in the configuration mode;
in the full MMIO mode, only the MMIO state of the programmable device is handled by the proxy handling circuitry while the programmable device is in the configuration mode;
and
in the partial MMIO mode, a first portion of the MMIO state of the programmable device is handled by the proxy handling circuitry and a second portion of the MMIO state of the programmable device is handled by a hardened controller;
and
in response to receiving an indication that the programmable device transitions from the configuration mode to the user mode, restore the one or more states to the programmable device.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus to enable CPU host-unaware dynamic FPGA reconfiguration

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus to enable CPU host-unaware dynamic FPGA reconfiguration

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20