Configurable crossbar and related methods
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsSamuel David Naffziger, Eric DeLano
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A processing system crossbar includes control sub-ports and mini-ports selectively configurable as connection points. Each control sub-port has a domain of mini-ports that the control sub-port is configured to selectively control. Each mini-port is configurable to select a control sub-port from those having domains that include the selecting mini-port. Each connection point includes a corresponding control sub-port and each mini-port selecting the corresponding control sub-port. The crossbar provides bandwidth tailored for various system agents. Thus crossbar bottlenecks are eliminated or reduced.
Claims17
A crossbar for providing connections among a plurality of system agents such as processors, memories and controllers, the crossbar comprising a plurality of control sub-ports and a plurality of mini-ports selectively configurable as a plurality of connection points for providing the connections;
- wherein each control sub-port comprises a domain of mini-ports which the control sub-port is configured to selectively control, and each mini-port is configurable to select one from a plurality of the control sub-ports comprising domains that include the selecting mini-port;
- and
- wherein each of the configured connection points comprises a corresponding one of the control sub-ports and each mini-port selecting the corresponding control sub-port.
A crossbar for providing signal connections among a plurality of system agents such as processors, memories and controllers, the crossbar comprising a plurality of ports, each port comprising a control sub-port and a plurality of mini-ports;
- wherein each of the mini-ports is configured to select to be controlled by a control sub-port of one of the ports that does not comprise the selecting mini-port;
- and
- wherein a given one of the control sub-ports, when selected by a mini-port of one of the ports that does not comprise the given control sub-port, is configured to control a signal passing through the selecting mini-port;
- the crossbar further comprising a plurality of connection points, each connection point configured from a corresponding control sub-port and each miniport selecting the corresponding control sub-port.
A method for increasing available bit width for a connection between a first system agent and a second system agent via a crossbar, wherein the crossbar includes first and second ports on a first crossbar side and third and fourth ports on a second crossbar side, each port including a plurality of mini-ports and a control sub-port, the control sub-ports of the first and second ports each configured to selectively control signaling through the mini-ports of the first and second ports, each mini-port of the first and second ports configurable to select to be controlled by either of the control sub-ports of the first and second ports, the control sub-ports of the third and fourth ports each configured to selectively control signaling through the mini-ports of the third and fourth ports, each mini-port of the third and fourth ports configurable to select to be controlled by either of the control sub-ports of the third and fourth ports, the method comprising the steps of:
- configuring a number of the mini-ports of the first and second ports to select to be controlled by the control sub-port of the second port, the number being sufficient to provide a desired bit width at a first connection point;
- configuring a corresponding number of the mini-ports of the third and fourth ports to select to be controlled by the control sub-port of the fourth port, the corresponding number being sufficient to provide the desired bit width at a second connection point;
- and
- connecting the first agent at the first connection point and the second agent at the second connection point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.