Trellis-search based dynamic multi-path connection allocation for TDM-NoCs

This paper proposes a centralized approach for connection allocation for TDM-based NoCs by making use of dedicated hardware unit called NoCManager that employs trellis-based search algorithm enabling dynamic parallel multi-path, multislot allocation. Be different to the previous unrolled trellis search algorithm, in this paper the folded architecture is employed to achieve efficiency. In comparison with previous TDM connection allocation methods, the proposed design has the following advantages: (1) hardware supported low-latency, high-throughput allocation mechanism, (2) improved success rate due to parallel multi-path search and (3) efficient NoCManager architecture. Compared to centralized software solutions the proposed design demonstrates two orders of magnitude improvement in allocation speed and ten times higher success rate. It can provide up to several times higher allocation speed and up to 18% higher success rate against recently proposed distributed solution.