DE102021002937A1 - Method of configuring an integrated circuit, method of providing loading software for an integrated circuit, and integrated circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

One aspect relates to a method for configuring an integrated circuit (102), in particular a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or a multiprocessor system-on-a-chip (MPSoC), the method having the following steps: - executing a first loading software by the integrated circuit (102), the first loading software based on first configuration data (502) partially configuring the integrated circuit (102) to execute a second loading software on the integrated circuit (102), and wherein an interface (116) of the integrated circuit (102) for communication with an external resource (118) is configured by means of the first configuration data (502);- execution of the second loading software by the integrated circuit (102), wherein the second Loading software second configuration data (630), which contains application-specific configuration data of the integrated circuit (102), via the interface (116) from the external resource (118) loads, and wherein the second loading software configures the integrated circuit (102) based on the second configuration data (630); and - running an operating system or an application on the configured integrated circuit (102).

Description

The invention relates to a method for configuring an integrated circuit (IC), in particular a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or a multiprocessor system-on-a-chip (MPSoC). Furthermore, the invention relates to an IC, in particular an SoC or an MPSoC, and a method for providing loading software for the IC.

An IC, such as a SoC or MPSoC, combines all or most of the functionality of a programmable electronic system on a chip (die) formed on a semiconductor substrate. A system is understood as a combination of different elements (logical circuits, clocking, automatic start-up, microtechnical sensors, interfaces, etc.) which together enable a certain application-specific functionality of the IC. An IC is usually used in an embedded system to take over certain application-specific tasks.

Modern embedded systems and ICs, such as heterogeneous reconfigurable SoCs/MPSoCs, typically require application-specific adaptation and optimization of the software executed by the embedded system or the IC and a corresponding configuration of the IC itself in order to provide an application-specific function. To do this, a user usually installs customized firmware on the IC, which is used to configure the IC accordingly.

However, this procedure is disadvantageous because the configuration of the IC is specified by the firmware and if necessary, for example adapting the functions of the IC to changed specifications, adapting the firmware or reconfiguring the IC at runtime is difficult to implement.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to be able to configure an IC as simply and flexibly as possible. Furthermore, it is desirable to improve the maintainability or adaptability of an IC.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of the respective independent patent claim. The respective dependent patent claims relate to preferred developments of the subject matter of the present invention.

• - Ausführen einer ersten Lade-Software durch den IC, wobei die erste Lade-Software basierend auf ersten Konfigurationsdaten den IC teilweise konfiguriert, um eine zweite Lade-Software auf dem IC auszuführen, und wobei mittels der ersten Konfigurationsdaten eine Schnittstelle des IC zur Kommunikation mit einer externen Ressource konfiguriert wird;
• - Ausführen der zweiten Lade-Software durch den IC, wobei die zweite Lade-Software zweite Konfigurationsdaten, welche anwendungsspezifische Konfigurationsdaten des IC beinhaltet, über die Schnittstelle von der externen Ressource lädt, und wobei die zweite Lade-Software basierend auf den zweiten Konfigurationsdaten den IC konfiguriert; und
• - Ausführen eines Betriebssystems oder einer Anwendung auf dem konfigurierten IC.

One aspect relates to a method for configuring an IC, in particular an SoC or an MPSoC, the method having the following steps:

• - Execution of a first loading software by the IC, wherein the first loading software partially configures the IC based on first configuration data in order to execute a second loading software on the IC, and wherein by means of the first configuration data an interface of the IC for communication with an external resource is configured;
• - Execution of the second loading software by the IC, wherein the second loading software loads second configuration data, which contains application-specific configuration data of the IC, via the interface from the external resource, and wherein the second loading software based on the second configuration data the IC configured; and
• - Running an operating system or an application on the configured IC.

Advantageously, running the first loading software and the second loading software allows the IC to be started or booted in a multi-stage start or boot process, with the IC being configured in a first stage using the first configuration data, and in a later second stage, the IC is configured based on the second configuration data. In this case, only a partial configuration of the IC can take place in the first stage, as a result of which a basic configuration of the IC is essentially carried out. In particular, only a basic functionality of the IC is provided by the basic configuration, which does not allow any application-specific function of the IC. For example, the first configuration data can be used to configure the IC in order to provide driver support for devices that can be connected to the IC (for example external resources such as network resources or non-volatile memories). The basic functionality provided in this way allows the second configuration data to be loaded from the external resource in order to then be processed by the second loading software and to configure the IC according to the second configuration data. Using the second configuration data, the IC can then be completely initialized according to the application-specific use of the IC. The proposed method advantageously enables flexible, application-specific configuration of the IC when starting or booting the IC. In particular, the first loading software and the second loading software can be executed when the IC is booted or started.

In the context of the present disclosure, the term “external” is understood to mean that the corresponding external element is not part of the IC. Rather, the IC can have appropriate interfaces to the external Ele ment to communicate or to access the external element.

Furthermore, the wording "second" loading software is to be understood in such a way that it is loading software that is executed after the first loading software. Consequently, further (third) loading software can also be executed between the first loading software and the second loading software. However, the second loading software is preferably executed directly after the first loading software, i.e. without executing further loading software between the first and second loading software.

The IC can be programmable. In particular, the IC can have at least a first processor unit, a first memory controller for accessing an (external) non-volatile memory, a second memory controller for accessing a volatile (external memory), an input/output unit, the first interface and a communication structure , which communicatively connects the aforementioned elements with one another. The IC can optionally have a programmable logic unit, for example a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), the FPGA also being communicatively coupled to the communication structure. Communicatively coupled means that the corresponding elements of the IC can exchange data by means of the communication structure.

Preferably, the interface can be a network interface and the second loading software can load the second configuration data from a network resource via the network interface. The second configuration data can thus advantageously be made available on the external resource, for example on the network resource, so that when the IC is started or booted, the second configuration data, which define the application-specific configuration of the IC, can be easily reloaded. If necessary, for example, the second configuration data can be exchanged on the external resource and when the IC starts or restarts, the exchanged second configuration data is loaded and the IC is configured according to the second configuration data, which reduces the effort to apply a changed configuration to the IC becomes.

During the execution of the second loading software, it is preferably possible to select to load specific second configuration data from a large number of second configuration data and to configure the IC using the selected second configuration data. Each of the second configuration data can correspond to an application-specific configuration of the IC. It is thus advantageously possible during the start-up of the IC to select a suitable application-specific configuration for configuring the IC. In particular, the selection can be made by a user, with the second loading software loading the selected second configuration data according to the selection and configuring the IC according to the selected second configuration data.

• - Laden eines Bitstroms durch die zweite Lade-Software, wobei der Bitstrom bevorzugt über die Schnittstelle von der externen Ressource geladen wird, und
• - Konfigurieren der programmierbaren Logikeinheit basierend auf dem Bitstrom durch die zweite Lade-Software.

Preferably, the IC can have the programmable logic unit mentioned above and the method can include the following steps:

• - loading a bit stream by the second loading software, the bit stream being loaded preferentially via the interface from the external resource, and
• - configuring the programmable logic unit based on the bit stream by the second loading software.

In this case, “bit stream” is understood to be information which contains programming information, on the basis of which the programmable logic unit is programmed or configured. In this case, the bit stream can be provided in particular as a file on the external resource. The external resource providing the bit stream can be an external resource that is different from the external resource providing the second configuration data. For example, the second configuration data can be provided on a network resource that is accessed via the network interface of the IC, and the bit stream can be provided on a non-volatile memory that is accessed via a corresponding interface of the IC (e.g.: USB, SATA ). In the aforementioned case, it can also be provided that the first configuration data contains data for configuring the interface with which the external resource providing the bit stream can be accessed. The first loading software can configure this interface of the IC accordingly.

In a preferred embodiment, however, the bit stream and the second configuration data can be stored on the same external resource. The configuration of the IC can thus advantageously be simplified in the first stage, since fewer interfaces have to be configured, for example. Furthermore, the application-specific configuration of the IC can be simplified since the second configuration data and the bit stream are provided on the same external resource.

• - Laden einer Steuerungsanwendung durch die erste Lade-Software;
• - Ausführen der Steuerungsanwendung auf einer Prozessoreinheit des IC;
• - Generieren eines Fortsetzungssignals durch die Steuerungsanwendung basierend auf einen anwendungsspezifischen Kontext des IC;
• - basierend auf dem Fortsetzungssignal, Starten des Ausführens der zweiten Lade-Software.

Preferably, the method may include:

• - loading a control application by the first loading software;
• - executing the control application on a processor unit of the IC;
• - generating a continuation signal by the control application based on an application specific context of the IC;
• - based on the continuation signal, start executing the second loading software.

By providing the control application, the start of the second configuration stage can advantageously take place depending on the application-specific context of the IC. In other words, the second configuration stage is only started by executing the second loading software if the application-specific context of the IC allows this. In particular, application-specific context means that the elements of the IC to be configured by the second loading software are configurable or ready for configuration.

Preferably, the control application can generate the continue signal after certain configuration registers of the IC are accessible, wherein preferably the certain configuration registers are only accessible or configurable after the execution of the first loading software has been completed.

For example, the specific configuration registers may only be accessible or configurable after a sufficient power supply has been provided. Correspondingly, the continuation signal is only generated when a sufficient voltage supply of the IC is guaranteed.

• - Laden eines Programm-Images durch die zweite Lade-Software, wobei das Laden bevorzugt über die Schnittstelle von der externen Ressource erfolgt;
• - Laden von Programm-Image-Konfigurationsdaten durch die zweite Lade-Software, wobei das Laden bevorzugt über die Schnittstelle von der externen Ressource erfolgt; und
• - Ausführen und Konfigurieren eines Programms durch die zweite Lade-Software basierend auf dem Programm-Image und den Programm-Image-Konfigurationsdaten.

Preferably, the method can further include:

• - loading a program image by the second loading software, the loading preferably taking place via the interface from the external resource;
• - loading program image configuration data by the second loading software, the loading preferably taking place via the interface from the external resource; and
• - Running and configuring a program by the second loader software based on the program image and the program image configuration data.

Advantageously, the loading of a program image by the second loading software allows another (software) program to be configured and executed by the IC during the second stage.

Preferably, the first loading software can contain the first configuration data and/or the first loading software can be stored on an external resource, preferably a non-volatile memory. Furthermore, the second loading software can be stored on an external resource, preferably the non-volatile memory.

In particular, the method can provide that the IC first configures a first memory controller of the IC, to which the non-volatile memory can be communicatively connected, before executing the first loading software. Corresponding configuration data can be stored on the IC for this purpose. Then, the IC can load the first loader software from the external resource using the first memory controller and start executing the first loader software. The first loading software and the second loading software can preferably be stored on the same external resource, for example the non-volatile memory. Preferably, the first loading software and the second loading software are provided together in an image by the external resource, e.g. the non-volatile memory.

The first loading software and the second loading software are preferably used to start or boot the IC. In particular, the first loading software can be a first stage boot loader (FSBL) and/or the second loading software can be a second stage boot loader (SSBL).

The first configuration data and the second configuration data can preferably together represent a complete application-specific configuration of the IC. In other words, the IC must be configured using the first and second configuration data so that the IC can be used in an application-specific manner. Preferably, by configuring the IC according to the second configuration data, the configuration of the IC according to the first configuration data can be partially modified. For example, an interface that was configured according to the first configuration data can be reconfigured or configured differently using the second configuration data.

Preferably, the first configuration data includes machine executable code, which is preferably included in the first loader software. Furthermore, the second configuration data can have configuration parameters for configuring the IC, the second configuration data preferably being provided separately from the second loading software. Under separated is understood that the second loading software does not contain the second configuration data.

• - einen ersten Speicherkontroller des IC zur Kommunikation mit einem nichtflüchtigen Speicher,
• - einen zweiten Speicherkontroller des IC zur Kommunikation mit einem flüchtigen Speicher, und
• - eine Taktung für Teile des IC zu konfigurieren.

Preferably, the first configuration data includes data for executing at least one of:

• - a first memory controller of the IC for communication with a non-volatile memory,
• - a second memory controller of the IC for communication with a volatile memory, and
• - configure clocking for parts of the IC.

As already mentioned above, the first loading software only partially configures the IC based on the first configuration data. This means that the configuration made by the first loading software does not make the IC fully operational for its intended application/function. Rather, the complete configuration of the IC takes place using the second configuration data by the second loading software. Furthermore, the configuration of the IC according to the first configuration data serves to provide a basic configuration, so that the IC provides certain basic functions, e.g. access to the non-volatile (external) memory, access to volatile (external) memory, the use of selected interfaces. Furthermore, the first configuration data may include data to configure input/output pins of the IC.

• - weitere Schnittstellen des IC,
• - eine Schnittstelle zwischen einer Prozessoreinheit und einer programmierbaren Logikeinheit des IC, und
• - eine vollständige Taktung des IC zu konfigurieren.

Preferably, the second configuration data includes data for executing at least one of:

• - further interfaces of the IC,
• - an interface between a processor unit and a programmable logic unit of the IC, and
• - configure a complete clocking of the IC.

The second configuration data preferably has data in order to configure all interfaces of the IC in addition to the first configuration data. Furthermore, the second configuration data may include data to fully configure the IC's input/output pins and/or to configure extended input/output pins between the programmable logic unit and the IC's processor unit.

• - Laden von dritten Konfigurationsdaten durch das Betriebssystem oder die Anwendung;
• - Konfigurieren des IC gemäß der dritten Konfigurationsdaten durch das Betriebssystem oder die Anwendung. Vorteilhafterweise kann der IC nach dem Booten bzw. Starten durch die Anwendung oder das Betriebssystem im laufenden Betrieb umkonfiguriert werden.

Preferably, the method can further include:

• - loading of third configuration data by the operating system or the application;
• - Configure the IC according to the third configuration data by the operating system or the application. Advantageously, the IC can be reconfigured during operation after booting or starting by the application or the operating system.

• eine erste Prozessoreinheit, und
• eine Schnittstelle zur Kommunikation des IC mit einer externen Ressource, wobei die erste Prozessoreinheit dazu ausgelegt ist:
  • - eine erste Lade-Software auszuführen, wobei die erste Lade-Software basierend auf ersten Konfigurationsdaten den IC teilweise konfiguriert, um eine zweite Lade-Software auszuführen, und wobei die erste Lade-Software basierend auf den ersten Konfigurationsdaten die Schnittstelle zur Kommunikation mit der externen Ressource konfiguriert;
  • - die zweite Lade-Software auszuführen, wobei die zweite Lade-Software zweite Konfigurationsdaten, welche anwendungsspezifische Konfigurationsdaten des IC beinhaltet, über die Schnittstelle von der externen Ressource lädt, und wobei die zweite Lade-Software den IC basierend auf den zweiten Konfigurationsdaten konfiguriert; und
  • - ein Betriebssystem oder eine Anwendung auf dem konfigurierten IC auszuführen.

Another aspect relates to an integrated circuit, in particular a system-on-chip or a multiprocessor system-on-chip, having:

• a first processor unit, and
• an interface for the IC to communicate with an external resource, the first processor unit being designed to:
  • - execute a first loading software, wherein the first loading software based on first configuration data partially configures the IC to run a second loading software, and wherein the first loading software based on the first configuration data the interface for communication with the external resource configured;
  • - execute the second loading software, wherein the second loading software loads second configuration data, which includes application-specific configuration data of the IC, via the interface from the external resource, and wherein the second loading software configures the IC based on the second configuration data; and
  • - run an operating system or an application on the configured IC.

The system can preferably be further developed in accordance with the first aspect mentioned. Furthermore, the first processor unit can have one or more processors. Furthermore, the IC can have a programmable logic unit.

• - Festlegen erste Konfigurationsdaten zur teilweisen Konfiguration des IC, wobei mittels der ersten Konfigurationsdaten eine Schnittstelle des IC zur Kommunikation mit einer externen Ressource konfigurierbar ist;
• - Festlegen zweiter Konfigurationsdaten zur anwendungsspezifischen Konfiguration des IC;
• - Erstellen einer ersten Lade-Software des IC, wobei die erste Lade-Software Anweisungen beinhaltet, um den IC basierend auf den ersten Konfigurationsdaten zu konfigurieren; und
• - Erstellen einer zweiten Lade-Software für den IC, wobei die zweite Lade-Software Anweisungen enthält, um die zweiten Konfigurationsdaten über die Schnittstelle von der externen Ressource zu laden und den IC basierend auf den zweiten Konfigurationsdaten zu konfigurieren.

Another aspect relates to a method for providing loading software and configuration data for an integrated circuit, in particular for a system-on-chip or a multiprocessor system-on-chip, the method having the following steps:

• - Defining first configuration data for the partial configuration of the IC, an interface of the IC for communication with an external resource being configurable by means of the first configuration data;
• - Setting second configuration data for the application-specific configuration of the IC;
• - creating a first loading software of the IC, wherein the first loading software includes instructions to configure the IC based on the first configuration data; and
• - creating a second loading software for the IC, wherein the second loading software contains instructions to load the second configuration data via the interface from the external resource and to configure the IC based on the second configuration data.

• - Bereitstellen der ersten Lade-Software auf einer externen Ressource, wobei die erste Lade-Software vorzugsweise die ersten Konfigurationsdaten beinhaltet;
• - Bereitstellen der zweiten Lade-Software auf einer externen Ressource;
• - Bereitstellen der zweiten Konfigurationsdaten an der externen Ressource. Insbesondere können die erste Lade-Software und die zweite Lade-Software auf derselben externen Ressource zur Verfügung gestellt werden, und die zweiten Konfigurationsdaten auf einer anderen externen Ressource zur Verfügung gestellt werden. Vorzugsweise können die erste Lade-Software und die zweite Lade-Software zusammen als Image auf einem nichtflüchtigen Speicher bereitgestellt werden, wobei der IC über einen ersten Speicherkontroller auf den nichtflüchtigen Speicher zugreifen kann.

Preferably, the method further provides:

• - Providing the first loading software on an external resource, wherein the first loading software preferably contains the first configuration data;
• - providing the second loading software on an external resource;
• - Providing the second configuration data at the external resource. In particular, the first loading software and the second loading software can be made available on the same external resource, and the second configuration data can be made available on a different external resource. Preferably, the first loading software and the second loading software can be provided together as an image on a non-volatile memory, the IC being able to access the non-volatile memory via a first memory controller.

• - Festlegen einer vollständigen anwendungsspezifischen Konfiguration der integrierten Schaltung, und wobei das Festlegen der zweiten Konfigurationsdaten basierend auf der vollständigen anwendungsspezifischen Konfiguration und den ersten Konfigurationsdaten erfolgt.

Preferably, the method can further provide:

• - Defining a complete application-specific configuration of the integrated circuit, and wherein the second configuration data is defined based on the complete application-specific configuration and the first configuration data.

Furthermore, the method can have features of the aforementioned aspects.

• 1 eine erstes exemplarisches Block-Diagramm eines IC,
• 2 ein zweites exemplarisches Block-Diagramm eines IC,
• 3 ein Verfahren zum Konfigurieren eines IC,
• 4 eine weitere Ausführungsform des Verfahrens zum Konfigurieren des IC, und
• 5 und 6 ein Verfahren zur Bereitstellung von Lade-Software für einen IC.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention result from the following description and from the drawings, which show exemplary embodiments of the invention. Corresponding objects or elements are provided with the same reference symbols in all figures. Show it:

• 1 a first exemplary block diagram of an IC,
• 2 a second exemplary block diagram of an IC,
• 3 a method of configuring an IC,
• 4 another embodiment of the method for configuring the IC, and
• 5 and 6 a method of providing loading software for an IC.

1 1 shows a simplified representation of an integrated circuit (IC) 102, in particular an SoC or MPSoC, as a block diagram. The IC 102 has a first memory controller 104 for communication with an external non-volatile memory. The external non-volatile memory can be provided in particular on a circuit board on which the IC 102 is arranged or operated. For example, the first memory controller 104 can be embodied as a flash memory controller, with which an external flash memory can be accessed. Furthermore, the IC 102 can have a second memory controller 106 for communication with an external volatile memory. For example, the second memory controller 106 can be embodied as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) memory controller, with which an external DDR-RAM (for example DDR4, DDR3, DDR3L) can be accessed.

Furthermore, the IC 102 has a first processor unit 110 for executing applications/programs on the IC 102 . The first processor unit 110 may include one or more processors. Furthermore, the IC 102 has a communication structure 108 which enables (data) communication between the first memory controller 104 , the second memory controller 106 and the first processor unit 110 . The communication structure 108 can be implemented by one or more bus systems which communicatively connect the aforementioned elements to one another. In particular, the communication structure 108 can be complex and multi-layered.

Furthermore, the IC 102 can have various interfaces and/or peripheral elements 114 which, in particular, can include a network interface and further serial and/or parallel interfaces 116 . Examples of serial interfaces include in particular a SATA (Serial AT Attachment) and/or USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface. In particular, the interfaces 116 allow access to external resources 118, such as network resources and/or non-volatile data carriers.

Optionally, the IC 102 can include a programmable logic unit 112 . The programmable logic unit 112 can be implemented as an FPGA, for example. Furthermore, the interfaces 116, the peripheral elements 114 and the programmable logic unit 112 can also be communicatively connected to the communication structure 108.

Furthermore, the IC 102 can have a platform management unit 122 which performs IC-related administration tasks.

2 also shows an IC 202, which differs from that in 1 illustrated IC 102 differs in that the IC 202 has a second processor unit 220. Furthermore, when in the 2 IC 202 shown, the first processor unit 110 can be designed as an application processing unit (APU) and the second processor unit 220 can be designed as a real-time processing unit (RPU).

With reference to 3 a procedure for configuring the IC 102/202 is explained in more detail below. When starting the IC 102/202, a first loading software is executed by the IC 102/202 in a first step S300. Before executing the first loading software, the IC 102/202 can configure at least the first memory controller 104 to load the first loading software from an external non-volatile memory based on configuration data stored on the IC 102/202. Furthermore, the first loading software contains first configuration data with which the IC 102/202 can be at least partially configured.

Partial configuration of the IC 102/202 means that the configuration includes only a basic configuration of the IC 102/202. Due to the partial configuration of the IC 102/202, there is no (complete) application-specific configuration of the IC 102/202. In other words, the configuration of the IC 102/202 according to the first configuration data does not allow the IC 102/202 to perform its application specific function in an embedded system.

In step S302, the first loading software configures the IC 102/202 based on the first configuration data. In particular, the configuration of the IC 102/202 based on the first configuration data enables the (later) execution of a second loading software on the IC 102/202. In this case, the IC 102/202 can load the second loading software in step S304 from a non-volatile memory which is accessed via the first memory controller 104, for example. Preferably, the first loader software and the second loader software may be provided together on the non-volatile memory accessed by the IC 102/202 via the first memory controller 104. In particular, the first loading software and the second loading software can be provided together in a (boot) image.

Alternatively, the second loading software can also be loaded from another external resource 118, for example from a non-volatile storage medium that can be connected to an interface 116 of the IC 102/202. For this purpose, the first configuration data can have data to configure a corresponding interface 116, for example a SATA (Serial AT Attachment) and/or USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, of the IC 102/202, so that the IC 102/202 can access the respective external resource 118, for example a data medium, can access in order to load the second loading software from this external resource.

In any case, provision is made for the first configuration data to contain data in order to configure an interface 116 of the IC 102/202 which is required in order to access an external resource on which the second configuration data is provided. In a further method step, the second configuration data is processed by the second loading software in order to configure the IC 102/202 using the second configuration data. For example, the IC 102/202 can be configured by the platform management unit 122 in accordance with the second configuration data.

After the first loading software has configured the IC 102/202 according to the first configuration data, in particular loading the second loading software, has configured the corresponding interface 116 for accessing the external resource 118, which provides the second configuration data, and the IC 102/202 configured such that the second loader software can be executed by the IC 102/202, in step S310 the previously loaded second loader software is executed by the IC 102/202 and the execution of the first loader software completed.

For this purpose, the second loading software is first initialized in step S312. In a further step S313, the second loading software loads the second configuration data from the external resource 118 via the interface 116 configured by the first loading software.

In a subsequent step S314, the second loading software performs an application-specific configuration of the IC 102/202 using the second configuration data. The application-specific configuration allows the IC 102/202 to perform an application-specific function in an embedded system.

In the event that the IC 102/202 has the programmable logic unit 112, the method in step S316 can provide for loading a bit stream for programming the programmable logic unit 112. After the bit stream has been loaded, the second loading software can program the programmable logic unit 112 with the bit stream. The bit stream can preferably be provided on an external resource 118, on which by means of a corresponding interface 116 is accessed. The interface 116, with which the external resource 118 providing the bit stream can be accessed, can be configured by the first loading software or the second loading software. If this interface 116 is configured by the first loading software, the first configuration data can have corresponding data for configuring this interface 116 . If the interface 116 is configured by the second loading software, the second configuration data can have corresponding data for configuring this interface 116 .

In a further step S318, the second loading software can load an operating system or an application. The operating system or application can be provided on one of the external resources 118, which the IC 102/202 accesses via an appropriate one of the interfaces 116. Furthermore, after the end of the second loading software in step S320, the operating system or the application can be executed. For example, a Linux kernel can be loaded and started in step S318, and a corresponding Linux operating system can be run on the IC 102/202 in step S320.

As previously mentioned, the first configuration data allows the first loader software to configure the IC 102/202 according to a base configuration. For this purpose, the first configuration data can also include, in particular, data for configuring the second memory controller 106 so that the IC 102/202 can access a volatile memory using the second memory controller 106 . Furthermore, the first configuration data may include data to configure clocking for parts of the IC 102/202. Furthermore, the first configuration data may include data to at least partially configure input/output pins of the IC 102/202 or an assignment of the input/output pins.

As previously mentioned, the second configuration data allows the second loader software to configure IC 102/202 according to an application specific configuration, thereby fully initializing IC 102/202. In particular, the second configuration data can have data for this purpose in order to configure further interfaces 116, preferably all interfaces 116, of the IC 102/202. Furthermore, the second configuration data can include data to configure one or more interfaces between the programmable logic unit 112 and the first processor unit 110 and/or second processor unit 220 . Furthermore, the second configuration data may include data to configure full clocking of the IC 102/202. Likewise, the second configuration data can include data in order to completely configure the input/output pins of the IC 102/202 or their assignment. Likewise, the second configuration data may include data to configure extended input/output pins of the IC 102/202 between the programmable logic unit 112 and the first processing unit 110 and/or second processing unit 210 .

Advantageously, dividing the configuration of the IC 102/202 into a basic configuration (first configuration data) and an application-specific configuration (second configuration data) allows the application-specific configuration to be flexibly loadable according to the second configuration data. Management of the respective ICs can thus be improved, particularly in distributed systems which have a large number of ICs. Advantageously, changes to the application-specific configuration of the ICs can be made possible simply by providing the corresponding second configuration data on one of the external resources.

With reference to 4 In the following, a modification of the in 3 shown procedure explained. In particular, in step S304, the first loading software may load a control application from an external resource 118 or the non-volatile memory. Correspondingly, the first configuration data can have data for configuring a corresponding interface 116 with which the external resources 118 providing the control application can be accessed. After the control application has been loaded, the first loading software starts the control application, which is preferably executed on the second processor unit 220 . Running the control application is in 4 represented by step S420. Furthermore, the execution of the control application is not ended by terminating the first loading software.

The control application is configured to generate a continue signal 432 based on an application specific context of the IC 102/202. In step S434, IC 102/202 waits for continue signal 432 after execution of the first loader software. By generating continue signal 432, IC 102/202 is signaled to execute the second loader software. Application-specific context means that the IC 102/202 is operated in such a way that all configuration registers of the IC are accessible or configurable. For example, it is possible that a complete configuration of the IC 102/202 can only be carried out when there is a sufficient voltage supply. The continue signal 432 becomes accordingly only generated when the control application determines that a sufficient power supply of the IC 102/202 is guaranteed.

Furthermore, it can be provided that after step S320 the operating system or the application loads third configuration data from an external resource 118 and configures the IC 102/202 according to the third configuration data. Advantageously, an application-specific configuration of IC 102/202 can thus be changed during operation after booting or starting IC 102/202.

Referring to the 5 and 6 a method for providing loading software and configuration data for the IC 102/202 is explained in more detail. The method begins in step S500 by determining a first configuration of the IC 102/202. The first configuration corresponds to a basic configuration of the IC 102/202. Based on this first configuration of the IC 102/202, the first configuration data 502 are defined or created. As mentioned above, the first configuration data 502 is used to partially configure the IC 102/202.

In subsequent steps S510 to S514, the aforementioned first loading software is created. In step S510, a project for first loading software is first created in a suitable development environment, which is intended to configure IC 102/202 in accordance with first configuration data 502 when it is executed. Furthermore, in a further step S512, the first loading software is modified in such a way that it allows the execution of a second loading software. In step S514, an image of the first loading software is created and provided.

Furthermore, in steps S520 to S524, the aforementioned second loading software is created. In step S520, a project for second loading software is created in a suitable development environment. In step S522, the second loader software is modified such that the second loader software can configure the IC 102/202 according to the second configuration data mentioned above. In particular, the second loading software is modified so that it can load the second configuration data from a non-volatile memory or an external resource 118 . Preferably, the second loading software can be modified in such a way as to offer a selection that enables the selection of second configuration data from a plurality of second confection data. An application-specific configuration of the IC 102/202 can thus advantageously be selected when the IC 102/202 is started or booted.

In step S524, an image of the second loading software is created and provided. The image of the first loading software and the second loading software is preferably combined in step S530 into a boot image 532 which is preferably provided on the non-volatile memory which can be accessed by means of the first memory controller 104 . Alternatively, the first loading software and the second loading software can also be made available separately from one another or made available as separate loading software in separate images.

With reference to 6 the creation of the second configuration data 630, according to which the IC 102/202 is configured by the second loading software, is described. To create the second configuration data 630, a complete configuration 602 of the IC 102/202 is created in a step S600. In this case, the complete configuration 602 corresponds to a complete application-specific configuration of the IC 102/202. In a subsequent step S620, the second configuration data 630 is created based on the complete configuration 602 and the first configuration data 502. To put it simply, the second configuration data 630 supplement the first configuration data 502 in order to enable the complete configuration 602 of the IC 702/202. However, the second configuration data 630 can also partially replace the first configuration data 502, so that the second loading software partially modifies an existing configuration of the IC 102/202 that was carried out by the first loading software.

The second configuration data obtained in this way is made available on the external resource 118, so that the second loading software can load the second configuration data from the external resource 118 during its execution.

Furthermore, in step S610 a project for an operating system or application can be created, which takes the complete configuration 602 into account. In step S612 the operating system or application is created and then made available on an external resource 118 from which the operating system or application can be loaded by the second loading software.

The methods mentioned above advantageously allow the IC 102/202 to be configured in two stages during booting, with a basic configuration of the IC 102/202 being carried out in a first stage and a complete configuration of the IC 100 02/202 being carried out in a second stage becomes. As a result, the second configuration data only later from an external resources are loaded, the configuration is particularly flexible. Furthermore, the basic configuration of the IC 102/202 according to the first configuration data remains unchanged and is preferably included in the first loading software.

In particular when there are a large number of ICs 102/202 used, the proposed method offers a possibility of configuring the ICs 102/202 simply and flexibly. In this way, the second configuration data can easily be provided in a network, and the ICs 102/202 can load their respective application-specific configuration when starting or booting from the network. The ICs 102/202 are therefore particularly easy to configure and maintain.

Reference List

102

integrated circuit (IC)

104

first memory controller

106

second memory controller

108

communication structure

110

first processor unit

112

programmable logic unit

114

Interfaces/peripherals

116

network interface

118

external resources

122

Platform Management Unit

220

second processor unit

432

resume signal

502

first configuration data

532

boot image

602

full configuration

630

second configuration data

Claims (17)

Method for configuring an integrated circuit (102), in particular a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or a multiprocessor system-on-a-chip (MPSoC), the method having the following steps: - the integrated circuit (102) executing a first loading software, the first loading software partially configuring the integrated circuit (102) based on first configuration data (502) in order to load a second loading software on the integrated circuit (102) to execute, and wherein an interface (116) of the integrated circuit (102) for communication with an external resource is configured by means of the first configuration data (502); - Execution of the second loading software by the integrated circuit (102), the second loading software loading second configuration data (630), which contains application-specific configuration data of the integrated circuit (102), via the interface (116) from the external resource, and wherein the second loader software configures the integrated circuit (102) based on the second configuration data (630); and - running an operating system or an application on the configured integrated circuit (102). procedure after claim 1 , wherein the interface (116) is a network interface and the second loading software loads the second configuration data (630) via the network interface from a network resource (118). procedure after claim 1 or 2 , wherein the integrated circuit (102) has a programmable logic unit (112) and the method further comprises: - loading a bit stream by the second loading software, the bit stream preferably being loaded via the interface (116) from the external resource (118). and - the second loading software configuring the programmable logic unit (112) based on the bit stream. Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: - loading a control application by the first loading software; - executing the control application on a processor unit (220) of the integrated circuit (202); - generating a continuation signal (432) by the control application based on an application-specific context of the integrated circuit (202); - based on the continue signal (432), starting the execution of the second loading software. procedure after claim 4 wherein the controller application generates the continue signal (432) after certain configuration registers of the integrated circuit (102) are accessible, preferably wherein the certain configuration registers are only accessible after the first loading software has completed executing. Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising the steps of: - loading a program image by the second loading software, the loading preferably taking place via the interface (116) from the external resource; - Loading program image configuration data by the second loading software, the loading preferably occurring via the interface (116) from the external resource (118); and - executing and configuring a program by the second loader software based on the program image and the program image configuration data. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first loading software includes the first configuration data (502); and or wherein the first loading software is stored on an external resource, preferably non-volatile memory; and or wherein the second loading software is stored on an external resource (118), preferably non-volatile memory. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first loading software is a first stage boot loader and/or the second loading software is a second stage boot loader. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first configuration data (502) and the second configuration data (630) together represent a complete application-specific configuration of the integrated circuit (102), and wherein preferably by configuring the integrated circuit (102) according to the second configuration data ( 630), the configuration of the integrated circuit (102) is partially modified according to the first configuration data (502). A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first configuration data (502) comprises machine executable code and wherein preferably the first loader software includes the first configuration data (502); and/or wherein the second configuration data (630) comprises configuration parameters for configuring the integrated circuit (102). The method of any preceding claim, wherein the first configuration data (502) includes data for executing at least one of: - a first memory controller (104) of the integrated circuit (102) for communication with a non-volatile memory, - a second memory controller (106) of the integrated circuit (102) for communication with a volatile memory, and - configure clocking for parts of the integrated circuit (102). The method of any preceding claim, wherein the second configuration data (630) includes data for executing at least one of: - further interfaces (116) of the integrated circuit (102), - an interface between a processor unit (110, 210) and a programmable logic unit (112) of the integrated circuit (102), and - configure a complete clocking of the integrated circuit (102). Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: - loading of third configuration data by the operating system or the application; - configuring the integrated circuit (102) according to the third configuration data by the operating system or the application. Integrated circuit (102), in particular a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or a multiprocessor system-on-a-chip (MPSoC), having: a first processor unit (110), and an interface (116) for the integrated circuit (102) to communicate with an external resource (118), the first processor unit (110) being designed to: - executing first loading software, wherein the first loading software partially configures the integrated circuit (102) to execute second loading software based on first configuration data (502), and wherein the first loading software is based on the first configuration data (502) configures the interface (116) to communicate with the external resource (118); - execute the second loading software, wherein the second loading software loads second configuration data (630), which contains application-specific configuration data of the integrated circuit (102), via the interface (116) from the external resource (118), and wherein the second loading software configures the integrated circuit (102) based on the second configuration data; and - run an operating system or an application on the configured integrated circuit (102). Method for providing loading software and configuration data for an integrated circuit (102), in particular for a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or a multiprocessor system-on-a-chip (MPSoC), the method having the following steps has: - determining first configuration data (502) for the partial configuration of the integrated circuit, an interface (116) of the integrated circuit (102) for communication with an external resource (118) being configurable by means of the first configuration data (502); - Specifying second configuration data (630) for the application-specific configuration of the integrated circuit (102); - creating first loading software for the integrated circuit (102), the first loading software including instructions for configuring the integrated circuit (102) based on the first configuration data (502); and - creating a second loading software of the integrated circuit (102), the second loading software containing instructions for loading the second configuration data (630) via the interface (116) from the external resource (118) and the integrated circuit (102) based on the second configuration data (630). procedure after claim 15 , further comprising: - providing the second configuration data (630) at the external resource (118). procedure after claim 15 or 16 , further comprising: - defining a complete application-specific configuration of the integrated circuit, and wherein the second configuration data (630) is defined based on the complete application-specific configuration and the first configuration data (502).

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