MultiNoC: A Multiprocessing System Enabled by a Network on Chip

Abstract: The MultiNoC system implements a programmable on-chip multiprocessing platform built on top of an efficient, low area overhead intra-chip interconnection scheme. The employed interconnection structure is a Network on Chip, or NoC. NoCs are emerging as a viable alternative to increasing demands on interconnection architectures, due to the following characteristics: (i) energy efficiency and reliability; (ii) scalability of bandwidth, when compared to traditional bus architectures; (iii) reusability; (iv) distributed routing decisions. An external host computer feeds MultiNoC with application instructions and data. After this initialization procedure, MultiNoC executes some algorithm. After finishing execution of the algorithm, output data can be read back by the host. Sequential or parallel algorithms conveniently adapted to the MultiNoC structure can be executed. The main motivation to propose this design is to enable the investigation of current trends to increase the number of embedded processors in SoCs, leading to the concept of "sea of processors" systems.