Title
Virtual Channels and Multiple Physical Networks: Two Alternatives to Improve NoC Performance
Abstract
Virtual channels (VC) and multiple physical (MP) networks are two alternative methods to provide better performance, support quality-of-service, and avoid protocol deadlocks in packet-switched network-on-chip design. Since contention can be dynamically resolved, VCs give lower zero-load packet latency than MPs; however, MPs can be built with simpler routers and narrower channels, which improves the target clock frequency, power dissipation, and area occupation. In this paper, we present a comprehensive comparative analysis of these two design approaches, including an analytical model, synthesis-based designs with both FPGAs and standard-cell libraries, and system-level simulations. The result of our analysis shows that one solution does not outperform the other in all the tested scenarios. Instead, each approach has its own specific strengths and weaknesses. Hence, we identify the scenarios where each method is best suited to achieve high performance, very low power dissipation, and increased design flexibility.
Year
DOI
Venue
2013
10.1109/TCAD.2013.2276399
IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems
Keywords
DocType
Volume
Network-on-chip,Quality of service,Design synthesis,Power dissipation,Packet switching
Journal
32
Issue
ISSN
Citations 
12
0278-0070
21
PageRank 
References 
Authors
0.88
28
4
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Young-Jin Yoon1222.25
Nicola Concer21648.90
Michele Petracca323916.21
Luca P. Carloni41713120.17