Methods and systems for converting a synchronous circuit fabric into an asynchronous dataflow circuit fabric

A system for converting a synchronous circuit design to an asynchronous dataflow design, comprising:

• means for identifying a synchronous circuit design including a plurality of signal-conducting wires, a plurality of synchronous logic blocks, a plurality of connection boxes including synchronous connection switches connecting the wires to the synchronous logic blocks and a plurality of switch boxes including switch box switches connecting wires to other wires;
• means for determining functional characteristics of the synchronous circuit design;
• means for converting, from the synchronous design, at least some of the plurality of synchronous logic blocks to corresponding asynchronous dataflow logic blocks providing corresponding asynchronous dataflow logic functions with protocol signals;
• means for converting, in the synchronous circuit design, the wires to tracks, each track supporting a plurality of wires whereby to communicate data and protocol signals between the asynchronous logic blocks;
• means for converting, in the synchronous circuit design, dependent on the functional characteristics of the synchronous circuit design, the synchronous switch box switches to programmable switch points;
• and
• means for converting, in the synchronous circuit design, dependent on the functional characteristics of the synchronous circuit design, the synchronous connection switches to programmable switches.

A system for converting a synchronous circuit design to an asynchronous dataflow design, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory connected to the processor and storing instructions to control the operation of the processor to perform the steps of:
• identifying a synchronous circuit design including a plurality of signal-conducting wires, a plurality of synchronous logic blocks, a plurality of connection boxes including synchronous connection switches connecting the wires to the synchronous logic blocks and a plurality of switch boxes including switch box switches connecting wires to other wires;
• determining functional characteristics of the synchronous circuit design;
• converting, from the synchronous design, at least some of the plurality of synchronous logic blocks to corresponding asynchronous dataflow logic blocks providing corresponding asynchronous dataflow logic functions with protocol signals;
• converting, in the synchronous circuit design, the wires to tracks, each track supporting a plurality of wires whereby to communicate data and protocol signals between the asynchronous logic blocks;
• converting, in the synchronous circuit design, dependent on the functional characteristics of the synchronous circuit design, the synchronous switch box switches to programmable switch points;
• and
• converting, in the synchronous circuit design, dependent on the functional characteristics of the synchronous circuit design, the synchronous connection switches to programmable switches.