Axel Jantsch

Bio: Axel Jantsch is an academic researcher from Vienna University of Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Network on a chip & Network packet. The author has an hindex of 40, co-authored 402 publications receiving 9161 citations. Previous affiliations of Axel Jantsch include Mid Sweden University & University of Giessen.

A network on chip architecture and design methodology

Abstract: We propose a packet switched platform for single chip systems which scales well to an arbitrary number of processor like resources. The platform, which we call Network-on-Chip (NOC), includes both the architecture and the design methodology. The NOC architecture is a m/spl times/n mesh of switches and resources are placed on the slots formed by the switches. We assume a direct layout of the 2-D mesh of switches and resources providing physical- and architectural-level design integration. Each switch is connected to one resource and four neighboring switches, and each resource is connected to one switch. A resource can be a processor core, memory, an FPGA, a custom hardware block or any other intellectual property (IP) block, which fits into the available slot and complies with the interface of the NOC. The NOC architecture essentially is the onchip communication infrastructure comprising the physical layer, the data link layer and the network layer of the OSI protocol stack. We define the concept of a region, which occupies an area of any number of resources and switches. This concept allows the NOC to accommodate large resources such as large memory banks, FPGA areas, or special purpose computation resources such as high performance multi-processors. The NOC design methodology consists of two phases. In the first phase a concrete architecture is derived from the general NOC template. The concrete architecture defines the number of switches and shape of the network, the kind and shape of regions and the number and kind of resources. The second phase maps the application onto the concrete architecture to form a concrete product.

Networks on chip

Abstract: We are witnessing a growing interest in Networks on Chips (NoC) that is related to the evolution of integrated circuit technology and to the growing requirements in performance and portability of electronic systems. Current integrated circuits contain several processing cores, and even relatively simple systems, such as cellular telephones, behave as multiprocessors. Moreover, many electronic systems consist of heterogeneous components and they require efficient on-chip communication. In the last few years, multiprocessing platforms have been developed to address high performance computation, such as image rendering. Examples are Sony’s emotion engine [OKA] and IBM’s cell chip [PHAM] where on-chip communication efficiency is key to the overall system performance.

Network on Chip : An architecture for billion transistor era

Abstract: Looking into the future, when the billion transitor ASICs will become reality, this p per presents Network on a chip (NOC) concept and its associated methodology as solu the design productivity problem. NOC is a network of computational, storage and I/O resou interconnected by a network of switches. Resources communcate with each other usi dressed data packets routed to their destination by the switch fabric. Arguments are pre to justify that in the billion transistor era, the area and performance penalty would be minim A concrete topology for the NOC, a honeycomb structure, is proposed and discussed. A odology to support NOC is presented. This methodology outlines steps from requirements to implementation. As an illustration of the concepts, a plausible mapping of an entire ba tion on hypothetical NOC is discussed.

Guaranteed bandwidth using looped containers in temporally disjoint networks within the nostrum network on chip

Abstract: In today's emerging Network-on-Chips, there is a need for different traffic classes with different Quality-of-Service guarantees. Within our NoC architecture Nostrum, we have implemented a service of Guaranteed Bandwidth (GB), and latency, in addition to the already existing service of Best-Effort (BE) packet delivery. The guaranteed bandwidth is accessed via Virtual Circuits (VC). The VCs are implemented using a combination of two concepts that we call Looped Containers' and Temporally Disjoint Networks'. The Looped Containers are used to guarantee access to the network -- independently of the current network load without dropping packets; and the TDNs are used in order to achieve several VCs, plus ordinary BE traffic, in the network. The TDNs are a consequence of the deffective routing policy used, and gives rise to an explicit time-division-multiplexing within the network. To prove our concept an HDL implementation has been synthesised and simulated. The cost in terms of additional hardware needed, as well as additional bandwidth is very low -- less than 2 percent in both cases! Simulations showed that ordinary BE traffic is practically unaffected by the VCs.

The Nostrum backbone-a communication protocol stack for Networks on Chip

Abstract: We propose a communication protocol stack to be used in Nostrum, our Network on Chip (NoC) architecture. In order to aid the designer in the selection process of what parts of protocols, and their respective facilities, to include, a layered approach to communication is taken. A nomenclature for describing the individual layers' interfaces and service definitions of the layers in the protocol stack is suggested and used. The concept includes support for best effort traffic packet delivery as well as support for guaranteed bandwidth traffic, using virtual circuits. Furthermore an application to NoC adapter is defined, as part of the Resource to Network Interface, and is used to communicate between the Nostrum protocol stack and the application. An industrial example has been implemented, simulated, and the results justifies the suggested layered approach.

A survey of research and practices of Network-on-chip

Abstract: The scaling of microchip technologies has enabled large scale systems-on-chip (SoC). Network-on-chip (NoC) research addresses global communication in SoC, involving (i) a move from computation-centric to communication-centric design and (ii) the implementation of scalable communication structures. This survey presents a perspective on existing NoC research. We define the following abstractions: system, network adapter, network, and link to explain and structure the fundamental concepts. First, research relating to the actual network design is reviewed. Then system level design and modeling are discussed. We also evaluate performance analysis techniques. The research shows that NoC constitutes a unification of current trends of intrachip communication rather than an explicit new alternative.

A network on chip architecture and design methodology

Abstract: We propose a packet switched platform for single chip systems which scales well to an arbitrary number of processor like resources. The platform, which we call Network-on-Chip (NOC), includes both the architecture and the design methodology. The NOC architecture is a m/spl times/n mesh of switches and resources are placed on the slots formed by the switches. We assume a direct layout of the 2-D mesh of switches and resources providing physical- and architectural-level design integration. Each switch is connected to one resource and four neighboring switches, and each resource is connected to one switch. A resource can be a processor core, memory, an FPGA, a custom hardware block or any other intellectual property (IP) block, which fits into the available slot and complies with the interface of the NOC. The NOC architecture essentially is the onchip communication infrastructure comprising the physical layer, the data link layer and the network layer of the OSI protocol stack. We define the concept of a region, which occupies an area of any number of resources and switches. This concept allows the NOC to accommodate large resources such as large memory banks, FPGA areas, or special purpose computation resources such as high performance multi-processors. The NOC design methodology consists of two phases. In the first phase a concrete architecture is derived from the general NOC template. The concrete architecture defines the number of switches and shape of the network, the kind and shape of regions and the number and kind of resources. The second phase maps the application onto the concrete architecture to form a concrete product.