JP4432402B2 - Ring bus system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a bus system for connecting modules provided in a semiconductor device such as an LSI (Large Scale Integrated circuit), and more particularly, a ring bus formed by connecting a plurality of buses in a ring shape. The present invention relates to a ring bus system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a semiconductor device such as an LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit), a module having various functions such as an arithmetic unit and a storage unit is provided, and a bus for connecting each module is provided. The required data can be transferred between modules.

  As such a bus, a linear bus 100 having both ends as shown in FIG. 7 and a ring bus 200 having a ring type by connecting both ends as shown in FIG. 8 are known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

In such a linear bus or ring bus, when data is transferred from the first module connected to the bus to the second module also connected to the bus, the first module and the second module The data transfer between the first module and the second module can be surely executed by prohibiting the data transfer while allowing the data transfer between the first module and the other module.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-23044

  However, as described above, when data transfer is performed between the first module and the second module, if data transfer is prohibited between the other modules, the data transfer is a set of modules. It has been difficult to improve transfer efficiency because it can only be executed between.

  As shown in FIG. 9, each module 310 is connected to the switch bus 330 via the bus 320, and the required modules 310 are connected by a switching operation using the switch bus 330. At the same time, a method of simultaneously transferring data by connecting other modules 310 as necessary has also been proposed, but each of the modules 310 as the number of modules 310 increases as the functions of semiconductor devices increase. It has become extremely difficult to connect all the modules 310 to the switch bus 330, and has not been a practical solution.

Therefore, in the present invention according to claim 1 , a plurality of modules, a bus connection unit connected to each module and transferring data in a predetermined transfer direction, and a ring connection via the bus connection unit are provided. A plurality of buses serving as data transfer paths, and a bus control unit that controls all the bus connection units ; the bus control unit connects a transfer source module and a transfer destination module; And the second transfer route are detected, and the transfer route having the smaller number of buses is selected from the first transfer route and the second transfer route.

Further, in the present invention according to claim 2, by connecting a plurality of modules, a bus connection unit connected to each module and transferring data in a predetermined transfer direction, and a ring connection via the bus connection unit A plurality of buses serving as data transfer paths, and a bus control unit that controls all the bus connection units; the bus control unit connects a transfer source module and a transfer destination module; And the second transfer path are detected, and when one of the first transfer path and the second transfer path is used for another data transfer, the other transfer path If you select the route.

Further, in the present invention according to claim 3, by connecting a plurality of modules, a bus connection unit connected to each module and transferring data in a predetermined transfer direction, and a ring connection through the bus connection unit Second data transfer having a plurality of buses serving as data transfer paths and a bus control unit for controlling all the bus connection units, and transferring data using the bus used for the first data transfer if occurs, stop the first data transfer executing a second data transfer, after the completion of the second data transfer, you resume the first data transfer.

Further, in the present invention according to claim 3, by connecting a plurality of modules, a bus connection unit connected to each module and transferring data in a predetermined transfer direction, and a ring connection through the bus connection unit Second data transfer having a plurality of buses serving as data transfer paths and a bus control unit for controlling all the bus connection units, and transferring data using the bus used for the first data transfer If this occurs, the bus control unit detects a transfer path different from the transfer path used for the first data transfer, switches the transfer path used for the first data transfer, and transfers the first data transfer. It intends line a second data transfer performs.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of modules, a bus connection unit that is connected to each module and transfers data in a predetermined transfer direction, and data is connected by ring connection via the bus connection unit. By using a ring-type bus system consisting of multiple buses that serve as transfer paths and a bus control unit that controls all bus connection units, buses other than the bus used for data transfer can be transferred to other data. It can be used for transfer, and a plurality of data transfers can be executed simultaneously. In particular, since each bus connection section for switching the data transfer direction is only connected to two buses, the bus can be easily routed, and a ring bus system can be formed very simply. Can be built.

In addition , the bus control unit detects a first transfer path and a second transfer path that connect the transfer source module and the transfer destination module, and the bus is transferred between the first transfer path and the second transfer path. By selecting the transfer path with the smaller number of data lines, it is possible to use a transfer path that can finish data transfer in a shorter time, and therefore, it is possible to improve data transfer efficiency.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of modules, a bus connection unit that is connected to each module and transfers data in a predetermined transfer direction, and a data is obtained by connecting in a ring shape via the bus connection unit. By using a ring-type bus system consisting of multiple buses that serve as transfer paths and a bus control unit that controls all bus connection units, buses other than the bus used for data transfer can be transferred to other data. It can be used for transfer, and a plurality of data transfers can be executed simultaneously. In particular, since each bus connection section for switching the data transfer direction is only connected to two buses, the bus can be easily routed, and a ring bus system can be formed very simply. Can be built. In addition, the bus control unit detects the first transfer path and the second transfer path that connect the transfer source module and the transfer destination module, and any of the first transfer path and the second transfer path is detected. If a part of one of the transfer paths is used for other data transfers, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a standby state in the data transfer by selecting the other transfer path. Can be improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of modules, a bus connection unit that is connected to each module and transfers data in a predetermined transfer direction, and the data is obtained by connecting in a ring shape via the bus connection unit. By using a ring-type bus system consisting of multiple buses that serve as transfer paths and a bus control unit that controls all bus connection units, buses other than the bus used for data transfer can be transferred to other data. It can be used for transfer, and a plurality of data transfers can be executed simultaneously. In particular, since each bus connection section for switching the data transfer direction is only connected to two buses, the bus can be easily routed, and a ring bus system can be formed very simply. Can be built. In addition, when a second data transfer occurs in which data is transferred using the bus used for the first data transfer, the first data transfer is stopped and the second data transfer is performed. By resuming the first data transfer after the end of the second data transfer, priority is given to the data transfer that can finish the data transfer in a short time due to the small number of buses used for the data transfer. Therefore, the time required for the total data transfer can be shortened, and the data transfer efficiency can be improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of modules, a bus connection unit that is connected to each module and transfers data in a predetermined transfer direction, and the data is obtained by connecting in a ring shape via the bus connection unit. By using a ring-type bus system consisting of multiple buses that serve as transfer paths and a bus control unit that controls all bus connection units, buses other than the bus used for data transfer can be transferred to other data. It can be used for transfer, and a plurality of data transfers can be executed simultaneously. In particular, since each bus connection section for switching the data transfer direction is only connected to two buses, the bus can be easily routed, and a ring bus system can be formed very simply. Can be built. In addition, when a second data transfer occurs in which data is transferred using the bus used for the first data transfer, the bus control unit uses the transfer path used for the first data transfer. By detecting different transfer paths and switching the transfer path used for the first data transfer to perform the first data transfer and the second data transfer, a plurality of data transfers can be executed simultaneously. Data transfer efficiency can be improved.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the ring bus system of the present invention includes a plurality of modules, a bus connection unit connected to each module and transferring data in a predetermined transfer direction, and the bus connection unit. The plurality of buses serving as data transfer paths by connecting in a ring shape and a bus control unit for controlling all the bus connection units.

  In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the first module 11, the second module 12, the third module 13, the fourth module 14, the fifth module 15, the sixth module 16, the seventh module 17, and the eighth module are used as modules. 18 is provided. Each of the modules 11 to 18 is a functional unit having various functions such as a processor and a memory.

  Each of the modules 11 to 18 includes a first bus connection unit 21, a second bus connection unit 22, a third bus connection unit 23, a fourth bus connection unit 24, a fifth bus connection unit 25, and a sixth bus connection unit 26, respectively. The seventh bus connection unit 27 and the eighth bus connection unit 28 are connected.

  The first bus connection unit 21 and the second bus connection unit 22 are connected by the first bus 31, the second bus connection unit 22 and the third bus connection unit 23 are connected by the second bus 32, and the third bus The bus connection unit 23 and the fourth bus connection unit 24 are connected by the third bus 33, the fourth bus connection unit 24 and the fifth bus connection unit 25 are connected by the fourth bus 34, and the fifth bus connection unit 25 is connected. And the sixth bus connection unit 26 are connected by the fifth bus 35, the sixth bus connection unit 26 and the seventh bus connection unit 27 are connected by the sixth bus 36, and the seventh bus connection unit 27 and the eighth bus are connected. The connecting portion 28 is connected by a seventh bus 37, and the eighth bus connecting portion 28 and the first bus connecting portion 21 are connected by an eighth bus 38 to form a ring bus.

  In this way, by connecting two buses to each of the first bus connection part 21 to the eighth bus connection part 28, an endless bus is formed by connecting all the bus connection parts 21 to 28 in series. is doing.

  Furthermore, the first bus connection unit 21 to the eighth bus connection unit 28 are connected to the bus control unit 40, and the data transfer path is controlled by the bus control unit 40 as described later.

The operations of the ring bus system described above are connected in the following order.
(1) When only one data transfer is performed (2) When another data transfer is performed using a bus not used for the data transfer during one data transfer (3) The data during one data transfer When performing another data transfer using the bus used for transfer

(1) When only one data transfer is performed In the ring bus system, it is assumed that, for example, data transfer processing from the first module 11 to the fourth module 14 occurs when data transfer is not performed.

  In this case, since the bus is ring-shaped, the bus control unit 40, as shown in FIG. 1A, is connected to the first virtual transfer path R1 that connects the first module 11 and the fourth module 14. The two virtual transfer paths of the second virtual transfer path R2 are selected. Here, the first virtual transfer path R1 includes a first bus 31, a second bus 32, and a third bus 33, and the second virtual transfer path R2 includes a fourth bus 34, a fifth bus 35, and a sixth bus. The bus 36, the seventh bus 37, and the eighth bus 38 are included.

  Then, the bus control unit 40 includes the first virtual transfer path R1 and the second virtual transfer path R2 that have a small number of buses constituting the first virtual transfer path R1 and the second virtual transfer path R2. That is, here, the first virtual transfer route R1 is selected as the transfer route T as shown in FIG.

  The transfer path T is selected by controlling the fifth bus connection section 25, the sixth bus connection section 26, and the seventh bus connection section 27 so that the bus control section 40 disconnects the buses constituting the second virtual transfer path R2. Is done by doing.

  By selecting the virtual transfer route having the smaller number of buses as the transfer route T out of the first virtual transfer route R1 and the second virtual transfer route R2, the data can be transmitted in a shorter time than the virtual transfer route having the larger number of buses. Since the transfer can be terminated, the data transfer efficiency can be improved. When the number of buses is the same in the first virtual transfer path R1 and the second virtual transfer path R2, either one may be freely selected.

  After transferring the data through the transfer path T, the bus control unit 40 reconnects the disconnected bus.

(2) When performing another data transfer using a bus not used for the data transfer during one data transfer In the ring type bus system, as shown in FIG. When the first data transfer process is performed in the first transfer path T1 constituted by the first bus 31, the second bus 32, and the third bus 33 connecting the fourth module 14, the eighth module 18 It is assumed that the second data transfer process to the sixth module 16 has occurred.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 2A, the bus control unit 40 selects the first virtual transfer path R1 and the second virtual transfer path R2 that connect the eighth module 18 and the sixth module 16. Here, the first virtual transfer path R1 includes an eighth bus 38, a first bus 31, a second bus 32, a third bus 33, a fourth bus 34, and a fifth bus 35, and a second virtual transfer path. R2 includes a sixth bus 36 and a seventh bus 37.

  Then, the bus control unit 40 cannot use the first virtual transfer path R1 and the second virtual transfer path R2 because a part of the first virtual transfer path R1 is used as the first transfer path T1. As shown in FIG. 2B, the second virtual transfer route R2 is selected as the second transfer route T2.

  In this case, if a bus that is not used for data transfer can be used without considering whether the second virtual transfer path R2 is configured with a smaller number of buses than the first virtual transfer path R1, A transfer path is configured using a bus.

  That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the first data transfer process is performed in the first transfer path T1 configured by the first bus 31 connecting the first module 11 and the second module 12. Even when the second data transfer process from the eighth module 18 to the third module 13 occurs, the first virtual transfer path R1 constituted by the eighth bus 38, the first bus 31, and the second bus 32 is used. However, although the number of buses is smaller than that of the second virtual transfer path R2 constituted by the third bus 33, the fourth bus 34, the fifth bus 35, the sixth bus 36, and the seventh bus 37, the first bus Since the first bus 31 of the virtual transfer path R1 has already been used as the first transfer path T1, the bus control unit 40 uses the second virtual transfer path R2 as the second transfer path as shown in FIG. It is configured to select as T2.

As described above, when a part of one virtual transfer path is used for another data transfer, the other virtual transfer path is selected as the transfer path, thereby preventing a standby state from occurring in the data transfer. Therefore, the data transfer efficiency can be improved.
(3) When performing another data transfer using the bus used for the data transfer during one data transfer In the ring type bus system, as shown in FIG. When the first data transfer process is performed in the first transfer path T1 configured by the eighth bus 38, the first bus 31, and the second bus 32 connecting the third module 13, the first transfer path T1 Suppose that a second data transfer process has occurred by the second transfer path T2 for transferring data from the first module 11 to the second module 12 using the first bus 31 constituting the.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 4B, the bus control unit 40 temporarily interrupts the data transfer through the first transfer path T1, and performs the second transfer from the first module 11 to the second module 12 through the second transfer path T2. 2 The data transfer process is executed first.

  The bus control unit 40 is configured to resume the first data transfer process through the first transfer path T1 after the second data transfer process is completed.

  In this way, when the second data transfer process for transferring data using a part of the buses in the first transfer path T1 occurs during the execution of the first data transfer process, the data of the first data transfer process By first interrupting the transfer and executing the data transfer of the second data transfer process first, it is possible to preferentially end the data transfer that can finish the data transfer in a short time. The time required for the data transfer can be shortened, and the data transfer efficiency can be improved.

  As described above, when the second data transfer process for transferring data using a part of the buses in the first transfer path T1 occurs during the execution of the first data transfer process, the first data transfer process is performed. Instead of interrupting, the first data transfer process and the second data transfer process can be executed simultaneously as follows.

  That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the first transfer path T1 constituted by the eighth bus 38, the first bus 31, and the second bus 32 that connect the eighth module 18 and the third module 13 to each other. The second transfer path for transferring data from the first module 11 to the second module 12 using the first bus 31 constituting the first transfer path T1 when the first data transfer process is performed in FIG. Assume that the second data transfer process at T2 occurs.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 5B, the bus control unit 40 performs the first data transfer processing that has been performed using the first transfer path T1, as a third bus 33 different from the first transfer path T1. And a third transfer path T3 composed of the fourth bus 34, the fifth bus 35, the sixth bus 36, and the seventh bus 37 is detected, and it is verified whether or not the first data transfer process can be performed on the transfer path. When the first data transfer process can be performed, the first data transfer process is performed by switching to the third transfer path T3, and the second module 12 is switched from the first module 11 to the second module 12 by the second transfer path T2. Two data transfer processes are executed.

  Therefore, since the first data transfer process and the second data transfer process can be executed simultaneously, the data transfer efficiency can be improved.

  When the first data transfer process is switched from the first transfer path T1 to the third transfer path T3, if the bus of the third transfer path T3 is used for other data transfer, the data transfer ends. The first data transfer process is temporarily interrupted until the second data transfer process is completed, or the first data transfer process is restarted using the previously free path.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where two types of data transfer are performed at the same time has been described, but not only the two types of data transfer are performed simultaneously, but also using a bus capable of data transfer, for example, as shown in FIG. The first transfer path T1 configured by the first bus 31; the second transfer path T2 configured by the third bus 33; the third transfer path T3 configured by the fifth bus 35; Data transfer through the four transfer paths T4 can be performed simultaneously.

It is explanatory drawing of the ring type bus system concerning this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the ring type bus system concerning this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the ring type bus system concerning this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the ring type bus system concerning this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the ring type bus system concerning this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the ring type bus system concerning this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the conventional bus system. It is explanatory drawing of the conventional bus system. It is explanatory drawing of the conventional bus system.

Explanation of symbols

11 First module
12 Second module
13 Third module
14 Fourth module
15 5th module
16 Sixth module
17 Seventh module
18 Eighth module
21 First bus connection
22 Second bus connection
23 Third bus connection
24 4th bus connection
25 5th bus connection
26 6th bus connection
27 7th bus connection
28 8th bus connection
31 Bus 1
32 Second bus
33 Third bus
34 4th bus
35 5th bus
36 Bus 6
37 Bus 7
38 8th bus
40 Bus controller

Claims (4)

Multiple modules,
A bus connection unit that connects to each module and transfers data in a predetermined transfer direction;
A plurality of buses serving as data transfer paths by connecting in a ring shape through the bus connection unit,
A bus control unit for controlling all the bus connection units ,
The bus control unit
The first transfer path and the second transfer path connecting the transfer source module and the transfer destination module are detected, and the bus having the smaller number of buses in the first transfer path and the second transfer path Ring type bus system that selects the transfer route of Multiple modules,
A bus connection unit that connects to each module and transfers data in a predetermined transfer direction;
A plurality of buses serving as data transfer paths by connecting in a ring shape through the bus connection unit,
A bus control unit for controlling all the bus connection units,
The bus control unit detects a first transfer path and a second transfer path that connect a transfer source module and a transfer destination module, and includes the first transfer path and the second transfer path. in the case where a part of one of the transfer paths has been used for other data transfer, re ring type bus system for selecting the other transfer path. Multiple modules,
A bus connection unit that connects to each module and transfers data in a predetermined transfer direction;
A plurality of buses serving as data transfer paths by connecting in a ring shape through the bus connection unit,
A bus control unit for controlling all the bus connection units,
When a second data transfer occurs in which data is transferred using the bus used for the first data transfer, the first data transfer is stopped and the second data transfer is performed. A ring bus system that resumes the first data transfer after the data transfer is completed. Multiple modules,
A bus connection unit that connects to each module and transfers data in a predetermined transfer direction;
A plurality of buses serving as data transfer paths by connecting in a ring shape through the bus connection unit,
A bus control unit for controlling all the bus connection units,
When a second data transfer occurs in which data is transferred using the bus used for the first data transfer, the bus control unit uses a transfer path used for the first data transfer and A ring-type bus system that detects different transfer paths, switches the transfer path used for the first data transfer, performs the first data transfer, and performs the second data transfer.

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