Abstract: A direct memory access (DMA) engine and a method thereof are provided. The DMA engine controls data transmission from a source memory to a destination memory, and includes a task configuration storing module, a control module and a computing module. The task configuration storing module stores task configurations. The control module reads source data from the source memory according to the task configuration. The computing module performs a function computation on the source data from the source memory in response to the task configuration of the control module. Then, the control module outputs destination data output through the function computation to the destination memory according to the task configuration. Accordingly, on-the-fly computation is achieved during data transfer between memories.

Abstract: A microprocessor provides at least two storage areas and uses a datapath for Booth multiplication. According to a first and second field of a microinstruction, the datapath gets multiplicand number supply data from the first storage area and multiplier number supply data from the second storage area. The datapath operates according to a word length indicated in a third field of the microinstruction. The datapath gets multi-bit acquisitions for Booth multiplication from the multiplier number supply data. The datapath divides the multiplicand number supply data into multiplicand numbers according to the word length, and performs Booth multiplication on the multiplicand numbers based on the multi-bit acquisitions to get partial products. According to the word length, the datapath selects a part of the partial products to be shifted and added for generation of a plurality of products.

Abstract: A microprocessor with dynamically adjustable bit width is provided, which has a bit width register, a datapath, a statistical register, and a bit width adjuster. The bit width register stores at least one bit width. The datapath operates according to the bit width stored in the bit width register to acquire input operands from received data and process input operands. The statistical register collects calculation results of the datapath. The bit width adjuster adjusts the bit width stored in the bit width register based on the calculation results collected in the statistical register.

Abstract: A microprocessor for neural network computing having a mapping table, a microcode memory, and a microcode decoding finite-state machine (FSM) is disclosed. According to the mapping table, a macroinstruction is mapped to an address on the microcode memory. The microcode decoding FSM decodes contents which are retrieved from the microcode memory according to the address, to get microinstructions involving at least one microinstruction loop that is repeated to operate a datapath to complete the macroinstruction.

Abstract: A microprocessor with Booth multiplication, in which several acquisition registers are used. In a first word length, a first acquisition register stores an unsigned ending acquisition of a first multiplier number carried in multiplier number supply data, and a third acquisition register stores a starting acquisition of a second multiplier number carried in the multiplier number supply data. In a second word length that is longer than the first word length, a fourth acquisition register stores a middle acquisition of a third multiplier number carried in the multiplier number supply data. A partial product selection circuit is required for selection of a partial product, to get the partial product from Booth multiplication based on the third acquisition register (corresponding to the first word length) or based on the fourth acquisition register (corresponding to the second word length).

Abstract: A data accessing method of a switch for transmitting data packets between a first source node and a first target node and between a second source node and a second target node includes: transmitting a data packet to the switch via at least one of the first communication link and the third communication link and configuring the control unit to store information contained in the data packet into the storage unit; and retrieving the information contained in the data packet from the storage unit via at least one of the second communication link and the fourth communication link. The first source node, the second source node, the first target node and the second target node share the same storage blocks.

Abstract: A microprocessor having the capability of executing a micro-instruction for series calculation is provided. The microprocessor includes an instruction decoder and an execution circuit for series calculation. The micro-instruction whose source operands correspond to an undetermined number x and a plurality of coefficients a0 to an (for x0 to xn) is decoded by the instruction decoder. Based on x and a0 to an, the execution circuit for series calculation includes at least one multiplier for calculating exponentiation values of x (e.g. xp), and includes at least one MAU (multiply-and-accumulate unit) for combining x, the exponentiation values of x, and the coefficients a0 to an for the series calculation.

Abstract: An optimized communication technique is provided. A communication controller has a retransmission list and a destination control logic circuit. The retransmission list records an identification number of a communication transaction that failed to transmit from a source module to a destination module. The destination control logic circuit manages the retransmission list. When a tracker is released from a queue of the destination module, the destination control logic circuit requests the source module to retransmit the communication transaction to the destination module according to the identification number recorded in the retransmission list.

Abstract: An optimized communication technique is provided. A transaction capability table records a first value representing practical transaction capability of a source module for transmitting a communication transaction to a destination module. Exchange of transaction capability regarding the destination module between the source module and at least one neighboring source module is taken into account in the first value. The source control logic circuit manages the transaction capability table and controls the source module to transmit a communication transaction to the destination module based on the first value recorded in the transaction capability table.

Abstract: A switch for transmitting data packets between at least one source node and at least one target node is provided. The switch includes a storage unit, a control unit, at least one receiving port and at least one transmitting port. The storage unit includes a plurality of storage blocks and configured to cache the data packets. The control unit is configured to manage the storage blocks. The switch receives and caches the data packets transmitted from the at least one source node via the receiving port and transmits the cached data packets to the at least one target node via the transmitting port. A data accessing method adapted for the switch is also provided.

Abstract: A controller device and an operation method for a non-volatile memory with 3-dimensional architecture are provided. The controller device includes an error checking and correcting (ECC) circuit and a controller. The controller is coupled to the non-volatile memory and the ECC circuit. The controller may access a target wordline of the non-volatile memory in accordance with a physical address. The controller groups a plurality of wordlines of the non-volatile memory into a plurality of wordline groups, wherein different wordline groups have different codeword structures. The controller controls the ECC circuit according to the codeword structure of the wordline group of the target wordline, and the ECC circuit generates a codeword to be stored in the target wordline or check a codeword from the target wordline under control of the controller.

Abstract: Control systems and methods for cache coherency are provided. One control method includes steps of transmitting a link-connect request to a second electrical device when the first electrical device is coupled to the second electrical device by a cache coherency (CC) interface by a first electrical device, establishing a link between the first electrical device and second electrical device according to the link-connect request by the CC interface, and operating a first operating system of the first electrical device by a second processing unit of the second electrical device after establishing the link.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory (NVM) apparatus and an address classification method thereof are provided. The NVM apparatus includes a NVM and a controller. The controller accesses the NVM in accordance with a write command of a host. The controller may perform the address classification method. The address classification method includes: providing a data look-up table, wherein the data look-up table includes a plurality of data entries, each of the data entries includes a logical address information, a counter value and a timer value; searching the data look-up table based on the logical address of the write command in order to obtain a corresponding counter value and a corresponding timer value; and determining whether the logical address of the write command is a hot data address based on the corresponding counter value and the corresponding timer value.

Abstract: An I/O circuit includes buffers, a storage module, accumulators, timers, and an arbiter. Each buffer corresponds to a respective virtual channel. Each buffer corresponds to a respective token bucket, and outputs a normal transmission request according to the amount of tokens and an accumulating signal. The storage module stores a lookup table including a plurality of weightings. Each accumulator corresponds to a respective buffer, accumulates a data volume according to the corresponding weighting, and outputs the accumulating signal. Each timer corresponds to a respective buffer, times waiting period after the corresponding buffer outputs the normal transmission request, and outputs a time-out transmission request when the waiting period exceeds a predetermined period. The arbiter receives the time-out transmission requests and the normal transmission requests, and selects one of the buffers from all of the time-out transmission requests and the normal transmission requests.

Abstract: A switch for transmitting data packets between at least one source node and at least one target node is provided. The switch includes a storage unit, a control unit, at least one receiving port and at least one transmitting port. The storage unit includes a plurality of storage blocks and configured to cache the data packets. The control unit is configured to manage the storage blocks. The switch receives and caches the data packets transmitted from the at least one source node via the receiving port and transmits the cached data packets to the at least one target node via the transmitting port. A data accessing method adapted for the switch is also provided.

Abstract: A controller device and an operation method for a non-volatile memory with 3-dimensional architecture are provided. The controller device includes an error checking and correcting (ECC) circuit and a controller. The controller is coupled to the non-volatile memory and the ECC circuit. The controller may access a target wordline of the non-volatile memory in accordance with a physical address. The controller groups a plurality of wordlines of the non-volatile memory into a plurality of wordline groups, wherein different wordline groups have different codeword structures. The controller controls the ECC circuit according to the codeword structure of the wordline group of the target wordline, and the ECC circuit generates a codeword to be stored in the target wordline or check a codeword from the target wordline under control of the controller.

Abstract: An I/O circuit includes buffers, a storage module, accumulators, timers, and an arbiter. Each buffer corresponds to a respective virtual channel. Each buffer corresponds to a respective token bucket, and outputs a normal transmission request according to the amount of tokens and an accumulating signal. The storage module stores a lookup table including a plurality of weightings. Each accumulator corresponds to a respective buffer, accumulates a data volume according to the corresponding weighting, and outputs the accumulating signal. Each timer corresponds to a respective buffer, times waiting period after the corresponding buffer outputs the normal transmission request, and outputs a time-out transmission request when the waiting period exceeds a predetermined period. The arbiter receives the time-out transmission requests and the normal transmission requests, and selects one of the buffers from all of the time-out transmission requests and the normal transmission requests.

Abstract: Data storage system and management method thereof are provided. The method, adopted by a data storage device coupled to a host device via a bus, includes: determining the data storage device requires to use a first temporary memory of the host device to access data in a second temporary memory of the data storage device; based on the determination, issuing a Device Bus Master (DBM) request message via the bus to the host to request for a right to control data transfer on the bus; in response to the DBM request message, detecting the bus to determine whether to receive a first DBM acknowledgement message from the host device; and if the first DBM acknowledgement message is received, then accessing the first temporary memory of the host device.

Abstract: A cache memory is shared by N cores of a processor. The cache memory includes a unified tag part and a sliced data part partitioned into N data slices. Each data slice of the N data slices is physically local to a respective one of the N cores and physically remote from the other N-1 cores. For each core, the cache memory biases allocations caused by the core towards a physically local slice of the core. The cache memory may be arranged as a set-associative cache memory, and allocations may be based on a miss rate of a data slice and a number of M ways allocated to a core. A dispatch queue dispatches requests in a schedule fashion so that only one of the N data slices at a time returns data to each core.

Abstract: Control systems and methods for cache coherency are provided. One control method includes steps of transmitting a link-connect request to a second electrical device when the first electrical device is coupled to the second electrical device by a cache coherency (CC) interface by a first electrical device, establishing a link between the first electrical device and second electrical device according to the link-connect request by the CC interface, and operating a first operating system of the first electrical device by a second processing unit of the second electrical device after establishing the link.