Link Division Multiplexing (LDM) for Network-on-Chip Links

Large Systems-on-Chip (SoC) can employ packet-switched Networks on-Chip with Quality-of-Service (QNoC) architecture. Communication in QNoC links typically involves Time Division Multiplexing (TDM). In this paper we propose the Link Division Multiplexing (LDM) technique based on optimal division of link wires among the data blocks of various applications and QoS levels that are transmitted through the same physical link. LDM allows simultaneous data transport in various QoS levels with full utilization of the link resources and elimination of timing dependency between QoS levels. Simulations comparing LDM with TDM were performed for routers with four clients with various probability profiles. The rate of flits transportation is increased by up to 50% in LDM.