Method for supporting multiple concurrent plugins in a programmable integrated circuit

US11916552B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• XILINX, INC. · US

Inventors

• Ellery Cochell · Hayward, US
• Ripduman Sohan · Washington, US
• Kieran Mansley · Cambridge, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 9, 2022
• Grant date: Feb 27, 2024
• Expiry date: Sep 3, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H03K19/00
• WIPO field: Basic communication processes
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Techniques and apparatus for dynamically modifying a kernel (and associated user-specified circuitry) for a dynamic region of a programmable integrated circuit (IC) without affecting (e.g., while allowing) operation of other kernels ((and other associated user-specified circuitry) in the programmable IC. Dynamically modifying a kernel may include, for example, unloading an existing kernel, loading a new kernel, or replacing a first kernel with a second kernel). In the case of networking (e.g., in a data center application) where the programmable IC may be part of a hardware acceleration card (e.g., a network interface card (NIC)), the kernel may be user code referred to as a “plugin.”