Systems and methods for selecting input/output configuration in an integrated circuit
AssigneeStretch, Inc.
InventorsRicardo E. Gonzalez, Albert R. Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrated circuit with selectable input/output includes a first processor configured to execute instructions, an input/output interface configured to receive and transmit standard input/output communications, an inter-processor interface configured to process interprocessor communications with a second processor, and selection circuitry coupled to both the input/output interface and the inter-processor interface and configured to select between the input/output interface and the inter-processor interface.
Claims37
A processor node configured to operate within an array of processor nodes in a multiprocessor system, the processor node comprising:
- a processor configured to execute instructions and including a processor network switch;
- a first input/output interface configured to process communications with an external device outside the array of processor nodes;
- a first inter-processor interface configured to process communications with a second processor node within the array of processor nodes;
- and
- a selection circuit coupled to the first input/output interface and the first inter-processor interface and further coupled to one of the external device and the second processor node, the selection circuit configured to select between the first input/output interface and the first inter-processor interface, based on whether the selection circuit is further coupled to the external device or to the second processor node,
- wherein the processor, the first input/output interface, the first inter-processor interface, and the selection circuit are included within the processor node.
A method of operating a selection circuit in a processor node within an array of processor nodes, the processor node including a processor, a processor network switch, an input/output interface, and an inter-processor interface, the selection circuit coupled to the input/output interface and the inter-processor interface, the method comprising:
- detecting that the selection circuit is coupled to one of an external device outside the array of processor nodes and a second processor node within the array of processor nodes;
- receiving at the selection circuit a selection signal based on the detection;
- selecting between the input/output interface and the inter-processor interface based on the selection signal, using the selection circuit;
- communicating standard input/output communications via the input/output interface between the processor and the external device based on a selection of the input/output interface;
- and
- communicating inter-processor communications via the inter-processor interface between the processor and the second processor node based on a selection of the inter-processor interface.
A method of operating an array of processor nodes, a first processor node of the array including a processor, a processor network switch, a first selection circuit coupled to a first input/output interface and to a first inter-processor interface, and a second selection circuit coupled to a second input/output interface and to a second inter-processor interface the method comprising:
- selecting the first input/output interface using the first selection circuit;
- selecting the second selection circuit using the second inter-processor interface;
- receiving and transmitting standard input/output communications to a device outside the array of processor nodes using the first input/output interface;
- and
- processing inter-processor communications to a second processor node within the array of processor nodes using the second inter-processor interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.