Skip to main content
Article
An improved fault-tolerant routing algorithm for a Network-on-Chip derived with formal analysis
Science of Computer Programming
  • Zhen Zhang, Utah State University
  • Wendelin Serwe, Inria, France; Univ. Grenoble Alpes, LIG, F-38000 Grenoble, France; CNRS, LIG, F-38000 Grenoble, France
  • Jian Wu, Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.
  • Tomohiro Yoneda, National Institute of Informatics
  • Hao Zheng, University of Southern Florida
  • Chris Myers, Utah State University
Document Type
Article
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Publication Date
3-1-2016
Abstract

A fault-tolerant routing algorithm in Network-on-Chip (NoC) architectures provides adaptivity for on-chip communications. Adding fault-tolerance adaptivity to a routing algorithm increases its design complexity and makes it prone to deadlock and other problems if improperly implemented. Formal verification techniques are needed to check the correctness of the design. This paper describes the discovery of a potential livelock problem through formal analysis on an extension of the link-fault tolerant NoC architecture introduced by Wu et al. In the process of eliminating this problem, an improved routing architecture is derived. The improvement simplifies the routing architecture, enabling successful verification using the CADP verification toolbox. The routing algorithm is proven to have several desirable properties including deadlock and livelock freedom, and tolerance to a single-link-fault.

Citation Information
Z. Zhang , W. Serwe, J. Wu, T. Yoneda, H. Zheng, and C. Myers, “An Improved Fault-Tolerant Routing Algorithm for a Network-on-Chip Derived with Formal Analysis”, Science of Computer Programming, 03/2016; 118, 24-39. DOI:10.1016/j.scico.2016.01.002