FPGA-based communications access point and system for reconfiguration
US6326806A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 29, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 4, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 29, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F15/7867
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An FPGA-based communications access point and system for reconfiguration of the FPGA via a communications channel are described in various embodiments. One embodiment includes a physical interface circuit, a storage element (e.g., a RAM), an FPGA, and a configuration control circuit. The physical interface circuit is arranged for connection to a communications channel and is coupled to the FPGA. The configuration control circuit includes a controlling circuit (e.g., a PLD) and a memory circuit (e.g., a PROM). The PROM is configured with an initial configuration bitstream for the FPGA. The initial configuration bitstream implements both a communications protocol and a control function that writes configuration bits received by the FPGA via the communications channel to the RAM. The control function also generates a reconfiguration signal responsive to a first predetermined condition. The PLD is configured to load the initial configuration bitstream from the PROM into the FPGA, and, responsive to the reconfiguration signal from the FPGA, to load a second configuration bitstream from the RAM into the FPGA. The control function may be configured to interact with standard network progra…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.