A GALS Network-on-Chip based on rationally-related frequencies

Abstract

GALS Networks-on-Chip (NoCs) in which the frequency of every switch can be set independently would enable per-node DVFS without requiring asynchronous switch design. However, traditional GALS interfaces introduce high latency penalties and are therefore ill-suited for inter-switch links in a NoC. In this paper we introduce and study a GALS Network-onChip based on the Globally-Ratiochronous, Locally-Synchronous (GRLS) paradigm. GRLS constrains all switch frequencies to be rationally-related but enables the use of efficient interfaces which reduce the latency of the network 60% compared to GALS solutions and obtains better throughput-per-power ratios compared to synchronous and mesochronous solutions.