Robust Header Compression (ROHC) in Next-Generation Network Processors

Robust Header Compression (ROHC) provides for more efficient use of radio links for wireless communication in a packet switched network. Due to its potential advantages in the wireless access area andthe proliferation of network processors in access infrastructure, there exists a need to understand the resource requirements and architectural implications of implementing ROHC in this environment. We presentan analysis of the primary functional blocks of ROHC and extract the architectural implications on next-generation network processor design for wireless access. The discussion focuses on memory space andbandwidth dimensioning as well as processing resource budgets. We conclude with an examination of resource consumption and potential performance gains achievable by offloading computationally intensiveROHC functions to application specific hardware assists. We explore the design tradeoffs for hardware as-sists in the form of reconfigurable hardware, Application-Specific Instruction-set Processors (ASIPs), andApplication-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs)

Reconfigurable Processing Units vs. Reconfigurable Interconnects

The question we proposed to explore with the seminar participants is whether the dynamic reconfigurable computing community is paying sufficient attention to the subject of dynamic reconfigurable SoC interconnects. By SoC interconnect, we refer to architecture- or system-level building blocks such as on-chip buses, crossbars, add-drop rings or meshed NoCs. P Our motivation to systematically investigate this question originates from conceptual and architectural challenges in the FlexPath project. FlexPath is a new Network Processor architecture that flexibly maps networking functions onto both SW programmable CPU resources and (re-)configurable HW building blocks in a way that different packet flows are forwarded via different, optimized processing paths. Packets with well defined processing requirements may even bypass the central CPU complex (AutoRoute). In consequence, CPU processing resources are more effectively used and the overall NP throughput is improved compared to conventional NPU architectures. P The following requirements apply with respect to the dynamic adaptation of the processing paths: The rule basis for NPU-internal processing path lookup is updated in the order of 100us, packet inter-arrival time is in the order of 100ns. Partial reconfiguration of the rule basis (and/or interconnect structure) with state of the art techniques would take several ms resulting in a continuously blocked system. However, performing path selection with conventional lookup table search and updates (and a statically configured on-chip bus) takes considerably less than 100ns. Hence, is there a need for new conceptual approaches with respect to dynamic SoC interconnect reconfiguration, or is this a \u27\u27no issue\u27\u27 as conventional techniques are sufficient

Error detection techniques applicable in an architecture framework and design methodology for autonomic SoCs

This work-in-progress paper surveys error detection techniques for transient, timing, permanent and logical errors in system-on-chip (SoC) design and discusses their applicability in the design of monitors for our Autonomic SoC architecture framework. These monitors will be needed to deliver necessary signals to achieve fault-tolerance, self-healing and self-calibration in our Autonomic SoC architecture. The framework combines the monitors with a welltailored design methodology that explores how the Autonomic SoC (ASoC) can cope with malfunctioning subcomponents.1st IFIP International Conference on Biologically Inspired Cooperative Computing - Chip-DesignRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Self-awareness in autonomous automotive systems

Self-awareness has been used in many research fields in order to add autonomy to computing systems. In automotive systems, we face several system layers that must be enriched with self-awareness to build truly autonomous vehicles. This includes functional aspects like autonomous driving itself, its integration on the hardware/software platform, and among others dependability, real-time, and security aspects. However, self-awareness mechanisms of all layers must be considered in combination in order to build a coherent vehicle self-awareness that does not cause conflicting decisions or even catastrophic effects. In this paper, we summarize current approaches for establishing self-awareness on those layers and elaborate why self-awareness needs to be addressed as a cross-layer problem, which we illustrate by practical examples