Abstract: A silicon device configured to distribute a global timer value over a single serial bus to a plurality of processing elements that are disposed on the silicon device and that are coupled to the serial bus. Each of the processing elements comprises a slave timer. Upon receipt of the global timer value, the processing elements synchronize their respective slave timers with the global timer value. After the timers are synchronized, the global timer sends periodic increment signals to each of the processing elements. Upon receipt of the increment signals, the processing elements update their respective slave timers.

Abstract: A condition code approach for comparing dimension match data of a rule with corresponding data in a key is provided. The approach includes, given dimension match data divided into first and second portions, comparing the first portion with a corresponding first portion of data in a key and setting a first condition code based on the comparison. The approach further includes comparing the second portion with a corresponding second portion of key data and setting a second condition code based on the comparison. The approach further includes determining whether the dimension match data is equal to, greater than, or less than the corresponding data in the key based on the first and second condition codes, and returning a response indicating whether the data matches based on the determination.

Abstract: Multiple ARM devices, each having multiple processing elements, linked together by an interconnect to form a coherent memory fabric in which each device has access to all of the processing elements located on all of the devices that are part of the coherent memory fabric. In order to comply with the ARM architecture, the system must have a global timer that is accessible to all of the ARM devices so that each of the devices can maintain the same timer value. The devices, systems, and methods disclosed herein provide for initial synchronization between multiple ARM devices that are joined together to form a coherent memory fabric. The initial synchronization is achieved by determining an offset between the timers of each ARM device and then minimizing the offset. The synchronization may be periodically checked and adjusted, as necessary, to maintain proper synchronization.

Abstract: A multi-rule approach for encoding rules grouped in a rule chunk is provided. The approach includes a multi-rule with a multi-rule header representing headers of the rules and, in some cases, dimensional data representing dimensional data of the rules. The approach further includes disabling dimension matching of always matching dimensions, responding to an always match rule with a match response without matching, interleaving minimum/maximum values in a range field, interleaving value/mask values in a mask field, and for a given rule of rule chunk, encoding a priority field at the end of dimension data stored for the rule in the multi-rule. Advantageously, this approach provides efficient storage of rules and enables the efficient comparison of rules to keys.

Abstract: A silicon device configured to distribute a global timer value over a single serial bus to a plurality of processing elements that are disposed on the silicon device and that are coupled to the serial bus. Each of the processing elements comprises a slave timer. Upon receipt of the global timer value, the processing elements synchronize their respective slave timers with the global timer value. After the timers are synchronized, the global timer sends periodic increment signals to each of the processing elements. Upon receipt of the increment signals, the processing elements update their respective slave timers.

Abstract: Multiple ARM devices, each having multiple processing elements, linked together by an interconnect to form a coherent memory fabric in which each device has access to all of the processing elements located on all of the devices that are part of the coherent memory fabric. In order to comply with the ARM architecture, the system must have a global timer that is accessible to all of the ARM devices so that each of the devices can maintain the same timer value. The devices, systems, and methods disclosed herein provide for initial synchronization between multiple ARM devices that are joined together to form a coherent memory fabric. The initial synchronization is achieved by determining an offset between the timers of each ARM device and then minimizing the offset. The synchronization may be periodically checked and adjusted, as necessary, to maintain proper synchronization.

Abstract: A condition code approach for comparing dimension match data of a rule with corresponding data in a key is provided. The approach includes, given dimension match data divided into first and second portions, comparing the first portion with a corresponding first portion of data in a key and setting a first condition code based on the comparison. The approach further includes comparing the second portion with a corresponding second portion of key data and setting a second condition code based on the comparison. The approach further includes determining whether the dimension match data is equal to, greater than, or less than the corresponding data in the key based on the first and second condition codes, and returning a response indicating whether the data matches based on the determination.

Abstract: A multi-rule approach for encoding rules grouped in a rule chunk is provided. The approach includes a multi-rule with a multi-rule header representing headers of the rules and, in some cases, dimensional data representing dimensional data of the rules. The approach further includes disabling dimension matching of always matching dimensions, responding to an always match rule with a match response without matching, interleaving minimum/maximum values in a range field, interleaving value/mask values in a mask field, and for a given rule of rule chunk, encoding a priority field at the end of dimension data stored for the rule in the multi-rule. Advantageously, this approach provides efficient storage of rules and enables the efficient comparison of rules to keys.

Abstract: A memory controller including an address incrementer and a page crossing detect logic. The address incrementer may be configured to generate a next address in a burst from a current address in the burst. The page crossing detect logic may be configured to determine whether the burst will cross a memory page boundary based on the current address and the next address. The memory controller may be configured to automatically split bursts crossing page boundaries.

Abstract: An arbitration logic including one or more modular priority encoders. Each modular priority encoder includes a first logic circuit, a comparator circuit, a second logic circuit, and an encoder circuit. The first logic circuit may be configured to generate a first output signal in response to a plurality of request signals. The comparator circuit may be configured to compare all possible pairs of a plurality of priority signals. The second logic circuit may be configured to generate a control signal in response to (i) the plurality of request signals and (ii) a result of comparing all possible pairs of the plurality of priority signals. The encoder circuit may be configured to generate a second output signal in response to the control signal.

Abstract: An arbitration logic including one or more modular priority encoders. Each modular priority encoder includes a first logic circuit, a comparator circuit, a second logic circuit, and an encoder circuit. The first logic circuit may be configured to generate a first output signal in response to a plurality of request signals. The comparator circuit may be configured to compare all possible pairs of a plurality of priority signals. The second logic circuit may be configured to generate a control signal in response to (i) the plurality of request signals and (ii) a result of comparing all possible pairs of the plurality of priority signals. The encoder circuit may be configured to generate a second output signal in response to the control signal.

Abstract: A memory controller including an address incrementer and a page crossing detect logic. The address incrementer may be configured to generate a next address in a burst from a current address in the burst. The page crossing detect logic may be configured to determine whether the burst will cross a memory page boundary based on the current address and the next address. The memory controller may be configured to automatically split bursts crossing page boundaries.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to encode a priority of a plurality of input signals. The second circuit may be configured to generate the plurality of input signals in response to one or more signals received from each of a plurality of ports. The apparatus generally provides dynamic priority arbitration for the plurality of ports.

Abstract: A pseudo pipeline including a plurality of pseudo pipeline stages and a control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to control the plurality of pseudo pipeline stages to provide pseudo pipelined operation.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to encode a priority of a plurality of input signals. The second circuit may be configured to generate the plurality of input signals in response to one or more signals received from each of a plurality of ports. The apparatus generally provides dynamic priority arbitration for the plurality of ports.

Abstract: A pseudo pipeline including a plurality of pseudo pipeline stages and a control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to control the plurality of pseudo pipeline stages to provide pseudo pipelined operation.

Abstract: A branch predictor, a method of predicting a conditional branch and a digital signal processor incorporating the conditional branch predictor or the method. In one embodiment, the branch predictor includes: (1) static branch correction logic configured to employ a static branch prediction and a correction indicator associated with a particular conditional branch in a computer program to generate a corrected branch prediction pertaining to the particular conditional branch and (2) confidence state updating logic associated with the static branch correction logic and configured to employ the static branch prediction and a branch taken indicator associated with the particular conditional branch to update a confidence state associated with the particular conditional branch, the correction indicator based on the confidence state.

Abstract: A bus that may be used in an integrated circuit chip. The bus generally comprises a master interface, a slave interface, and a control logic. The master interface may be configured to (i) receive an early command signal having a predetermined timing relationship to a first clock edge and (ii) present a bus wait signal proximate a second clock edge. The slave interface may be configured to (i) present a command signal a delay after the first clock edge and (ii) receive a slave wait signal. The control logic may be configured to (i) register the early command signal to generate the command signal and (ii) convert the slave wait signal into the bus wait signal.

Abstract: A method of recovering from loading invalid data into a register within a pipelined processor. The method comprises the steps of (A) setting a register status for the register to an invalid state in response to loading invalid data into the register and (B) stalling the processor in response to an instruction requiring data buffered by the register and the register status being in the invalid state.

Abstract: A method of conditional branching in a pipelined processor. The method comprising the steps of (A) prefetching a branch target address in response to encountering a branch instruction, in prediction of taking a branch, and (B) evaluating between (i) taking the branch and (ii) not taking the branch substantially contemporaneously with prefetching the branch target address.