Method for managing resources in a reconfigurable computer having programmable logic resources where automatically swapping configuration data between a secondary storage device and the programmable logic resources

Abstract

A reconfigurable computer system based on programmable logic is provided. A system design language may be used to write applications. The applications may be automatically partitioned into software components and programmable logic resource components. A virtual computer operating system may be provided to schedule and allocate system resources. The virtual computer operating system may include a virtual logic manager that may increase the capabilities of programmable logic resources in the system.

1. A method for managing resources in a reconfigurable computer that contains programmable logic resources that are reconfigurable to optimize the ability of the computer to handle a given application comprising:
 automatically swapping configuration data between a secondary storage device and the programmable logic resources during programmable logic resource allocation using a virtual logic manager, wherein the secondary storage device is a mass storage device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the reconfigurable computer includes a central processing unit implemented on at least one programmable logic device and programmable logic coupled to the central processing unit, wherein the programmable logic is reconfigurable to optimize the ability of the computer system to handle a given application. 
     
     
       3. The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the reconfigurable computer includes a central processing unit implemented on a microprocessor and programmable logic coupled to the central processing unit, wherein the programmable logic is reconfigurable to optimize the ability of the computer system to handle a given application. 
     
     
       4. The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the reconfigurable computer includes a central processing unit that is partially implemented on a microprocessor and that is partially implemented on a programmable logic device and programmable logic coupled to the central processing unit, wherein the programmable logic is reconfigurable to optimize the ability of the computer system to handle a given application. 
     
     
       5. The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the automatically swapping configuration data between the secondary storage device and the programmable logic resources comprises automatically swapping configuration data between a hard disk drive and the programmable logic resources. 
     
     
       6. The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the automatically swapping configuration data between the secondary storage device and the programmable logic resources comprises automatically swapping configuration data between the secondary storage device and programmable logic device configuration memory. 
     
     
       7. The method defined in  claim 1  further comprising automatically swapping state information between the secondary storage device and the programmable logic resources during programmable logic resource allocation using the virtual logic manager. 
     
     
       8. The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the reconfigurable computer is scalable with respect to the programmable logic resources. 
     
     
       9. A method for optimizing the ability of a computer comprising programmable logic resources to execute a given application, the method comprising:
 during run-time of the application, automatically determining an available programmable logic resource bandwidth; and   during run-time of the application, based at least in part on the available programmable logic resource bandwidth, automatically swapping configuration data between a memory device and at least one of the programmable logic resources to reconfigure programmable logic resources.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9 wherein the automatically reconfiguring is performed by a virtual computer operating system. 
     
     
       11. A reconfigurable computer system comprising:
 at least one programmable logic resource;   a secondary storage device coupled to the at least one programmable logic resource, wherein the secondary storage device is a mass storage device; and   a central processing unit coupled to the at least one programmable logic resource and the secondary storage device, wherein the processor is configured to automatically swap configuration data between the secondary storage device and the at least one programmable logic resource during programmable logic resource allocation using a virtual logic manager.   
     
     
       12. The system of claim 11 wherein the central processing unit is at least partially implemented on the at least one programmable logic resource. 
     
     
       13. The system of claim 11 wherein the central processing unit is at least partially implemented on a microprocessor. 
     
     
       14. The system of claim 11 wherein the central processing unit is partially implemented on a microprocessor and is partially implemented on the at least one programmable logic resource. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim 11 wherein the secondary storage device is a hard disk drive. 
     
     
       16. The system of claim 11 wherein the at least one programmable logic resource comprises configuration memory, and wherein the configuration data is swapped between the configuration memory and the secondary storage device. 
     
     
       17. The system of claim 11, wherein the central processing unit is further configured to automatically swap state information between the secondary storage device and the at least one programmable logic resource during programmable logic resource allocation using the virtual logic manager. 
     
     
       18. The system of claim 11, wherein the reconfigurable computer is scalable with respect to the programmable logic resources. 
     
     
       19. A system for optimizing the ability of a computer to execute a given application, the system comprising:
 at least one programmable logic resource;   a memory device coupled to the central processing unit and to the at least one programmable logic resource; and   a central processing unit configured to:
 during run-time of the application, automatically determine an available programmable logic resource bandwidth; and 
 during run-time of the application, based at least in part on the available programmable logic resource bandwidth, automatically swap configuration data between the memory device and the at least one programmable logic resource to reconfigure the at least one programmable logic resource. 
   
     
     
       20. The system of claim 19 wherein a virtual computer operating system runs on the central processing unit.