{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853644","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9853644","title":"Multiple-layer configuration storage for runtime reconfigurable systems","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2016-11-07T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["G06F","G06F","G06F","H04L"],"num_claims":20,"abstract":"The disclosure relates to technology for configuring programmable logic devices having multiple programmable hardware units configurable in one or more functional modes. The programmable hardware units are coupled to independent switch devices (e.g., multiplexers) that select configuration patterns stored in a common and shared configuration memory. The configuration memory includes a set of configuration registers to store the configuration patterns, which configuration patterns correspond to the one or more functional modes. The configuration registers may be addressed using an index of addresses stored in memory that identify a select line in one of the switch devices for a particular programmable hardware unit. Each select line in a switch device corresponds to a particular one of the configuration registers storing the configuration pattern. The addressed configuration register is accessed to retrieve the configuration pattern and configure the programmable hardware unit."},"analysis":{"summary":"The **Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems** patent (US-9853644) introduces a revolutionary solution for dynamically configuring programmable logic devices (PLDs) with multiple programmable hardware units. At its core, the innovation addresses the inefficiencies and latencies inherent in traditional hardware reconfiguration processes.\n\nThe problem it solves is the challenge of rapidly and efficiently switching the functional modes of hardware units within a PLD. Current methods often involve cumbersome full or partial reconfigurations, leading to significant delays and resource overhead, especially in systems requiring agile adaptation to changing tasks or environments.\n\nThe key technical approach involves a common, shared configuration memory that stores a diverse set of configuration patterns, each corresponding to a specific functional mode. Each programmable hardware unit is coupled to an independent switch device (e.g., a multiplexer). Instead of direct bitstream loading, an index of addresses identifies a select line within these switch devices, which in turn points to the correct configuration register in the shared memory. This allows for rapid retrieval and application of the desired configuration pattern, enabling near-instantaneous hardware adaptation.\n\nThe business value and applications are substantial. This technology empowers industries requiring high-speed, adaptive hardware, such as autonomous systems, edge AI, telecommunications, and high-performance computing. It facilitates the creation of more agile, power-efficient, and responsive devices by optimizing hardware utilization and reducing reconfiguration latency. Companies can develop products with greater flexibility, extended battery life, and superior real-time performance.\n\nThe market opportunity for this invention is significant, spanning embedded systems, IoT, data centers, and specialized accelerators. It enables a paradigm shift towards truly adaptive computing, where hardware can intelligently and instantly morph its functionality to meet evolving demands, offering a competitive edge to adopters and opening new avenues for innovation in hardware design.","layman_explanation":"### What Problem Does This Solve?\n\nImagine you have a highly advanced factory machine that can perform many different jobs – maybe one minute it's assembling cars, the next it's making airplane parts, and then it's packaging food. In today's world, if you want this machine to switch from assembling cars to making airplane parts, you often have to stop it, perform a complex and time-consuming 'retooling' process, and then restart it. This retooling takes valuable time, costs money in lost production, and can be quite complicated to manage.\n\nIn the world of advanced electronics, especially with programmable chips like FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays), the situation is similar. These chips are incredibly versatile because they can be reconfigured to do almost anything. However, the process of reconfiguring them – essentially changing their internal 'job' – is often slow and cumbersome. It's like having to shut down your computer and reinstall its operating system just to switch from a word processor to a spreadsheet program. This rigidity limits how quickly and flexibly these powerful chips can be used in dynamic environments, such as autonomous vehicles, real-time AI, or rapidly changing communication networks.\n\n### How Does It Work?\n\nThe **Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems** patent solves this 'retooling' problem with a clever new approach. Think of it like this: instead of stopping the entire factory machine for retooling, this innovation gives each small part of the machine its own 'instant job selector' and access to a central 'job library'.\n\nHere's the conceptual breakdown:\n\n1.  **A Central Job Library:** The patent proposes a shared memory that acts as a comprehensive library. This library stores all the different 'job configurations' (like car assembly, airplane parts, food packaging) that the various parts of the chip can perform. Each job has its own specific 'recipe' or pattern stored in a dedicated slot.\n2.  **Individual 'Instant Job Selectors':** Every programmable unit within the chip (like a robotic arm, a sensor, or a processing unit) is equipped with its own independent 'selector switch'. This switch is like a smart dial that can instantly pick a job from the central library.\n3.  **Intelligent Addressing:** When a specific part of the chip needs to switch jobs (e.g., a processing unit needs to go from image recognition to data encryption), the system doesn't send it a whole new complex instruction manual. Instead, it sends a simple, quick 'code' to that part's 'selector switch'. This code tells the switch exactly which 'recipe slot' in the central library to access.\n4.  **Instantaneous Configuration:** The selector switch immediately pulls the correct job recipe from the library, and *bam!* – that part of the chip is instantly reconfigured and ready for its new task, without affecting other parts of the chip and without any significant delay.\n\nThis is a fundamental shift from slow, sequential retooling to rapid, on-demand, and localized job switching.\n\n### Why Does This Matter?\n\nThis innovation holds immense significance for any business relying on advanced electronics, particularly those in fast-paced or resource-constrained environments:\n\n*   **Unprecedented Agility:** Products can now adapt their core hardware functions in milliseconds, making them incredibly responsive to changing demands. This is crucial for autonomous systems that need to react instantly to their surroundings or for telecommunications equipment that must adapt to fluctuating network traffic.\n*   **Enhanced Efficiency and Cost Savings:** By allowing hardware to be repurposed quickly, companies can maximize the utilization of expensive chip real estate. This reduces the need for multiple specialized chips, leading to lower manufacturing costs and potentially smaller, more energy-efficient devices. Less idle hardware means less wasted power.\n*   **Competitive Edge:** Businesses that adopt this technology will be able to design and deploy products with superior performance, flexibility, and power efficiency, giving them a significant advantage in competitive markets. It enables entirely new product capabilities that were previously impractical due to reconfiguration overhead.\n*   **Faster Innovation Cycles:** The simplified management of hardware configurations can accelerate product development, allowing companies to bring new features and capabilities to market more quickly.\n\n### What's Next?\n\nThe **Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems** paves the way for a new generation of truly 'adaptive hardware'. We can expect to see this technology integrated into next-generation FPGAs and custom ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits). Its future applications will likely include highly dynamic edge AI processors that can switch between different machine learning models instantly, advanced robotics that adapt their sensor processing based on their environment, and resilient computing systems that can rapidly reconfigure to bypass faults. This technology is a cornerstone for a future where hardware is as fluid and programmable as software, constantly optimizing itself for peak performance and efficiency.","technical_analysis":"The patent **Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems** (US-9853644) delineates a sophisticated architecture designed to overcome the limitations of conventional runtime reconfiguration in programmable logic devices (PLDs). The core technical challenge addressed is the efficient and low-latency management of configuration data for multiple programmable hardware units that must dynamically switch between various functional modes.\n\n**Technical Architecture:**\nAt the heart of this invention lies a hierarchical and distributed configuration management system. The architecture can be decomposed into several key components:\n1.  **Programmable Hardware Units (PHUs):** These are the fundamental reconfigurable blocks within the PLD, such as configurable logic blocks (CLBs), DSP slices, BRAMs, or custom IP cores, each capable of operating in one or more distinct functional modes. Each PHU requires a specific configuration pattern to define its operational behavior for a given mode.\n2.  **Independent Switch Devices:** Critically, each PHU is directly coupled to its own dedicated switch device, often implemented as a multiplexer. These switches are not general-purpose data routers but are specifically designed to select configuration patterns.\n3.  **Common and Shared Configuration Memory:** This centralized memory bank serves as a repository for all pre-compiled configuration patterns. It contains a set of 'configuration registers,' where each register stores a unique bitstream or pattern corresponding to a particular functional mode for any PHU that might need it. This shared resource optimizes memory footprint by avoiding redundant storage of common patterns.\n4.  **Address Index Memory:** A separate memory (or a dedicated section within the configuration memory) holds an 'index of addresses.' This index does not store configuration data directly, but rather identifiers or pointers. Each entry in the index maps a specific PHU and a desired functional mode to a 'select line' within that PHu's independent switch device.\n\n**Implementation Details and Algorithm Specifics:**\nWhen a PHU needs to be reconfigured, the process is initiated by a system controller. Instead of streaming a full configuration bitstream, the controller performs an indexed lookup. The algorithm proceeds as follows:\n1.  **Request Initiation:** The system controller identifies a target PHU (e.g., PHU_X) and the desired functional mode (e.g., Mode_A).\n2.  **Address Retrieval:** The controller queries the Address Index Memory using (PHU_X, Mode_A) as inputs. The output is a specific 'select_line_ID' that corresponds to a particular input of PHU_X's switch device.\n3.  **Switch Activation:** The 'select_line_ID' is then applied to the independent switch device associated with PHU_X. This activates a specific input path within the multiplexer.\n4.  **Configuration Pattern Access:** The activated select line effectively establishes a connection to a specific configuration register within the Common Configuration Memory. The bitstream stored in this register, corresponding to Mode_A for PHU_X, is then read out.\n5.  **PHU Configuration:** The retrieved configuration pattern is loaded into the configuration logic of PHU_X, instantly reconfiguring it to operate in Mode_A.\n\nThis method offers significant advantages over traditional partial reconfiguration. The configuration patterns are pre-loaded into the shared memory, eliminating the runtime overhead of streaming large bitstreams. The use of independent switches enables parallel and localized reconfiguration, meaning one PHU can be reconfigured without affecting others, drastically reducing latency. The address index mechanism abstracts the complexity of bitstream management, simplifying the control plane.\n\n**Integration Patterns and Performance Characteristics:**\nIntegration of this technology would involve custom hardware IP for the switch devices and a dedicated memory controller for the common configuration and address index memories. These could be integrated into the fabric of an FPGA or as a specialized block in an ASIC. Performance gains are primarily observed in:\n*   **Reduced Latency:** Reconfiguration times can drop from milliseconds (for partial reconfiguration) to microseconds or even nanoseconds, as it primarily involves memory lookup and multiplexer switching.\n*   **Enhanced Throughput:** Faster reconfiguration allows for more frequent mode switching, maximizing the computational throughput of the programmable fabric.\n*   **Optimized Resource Utilization:** Shared configuration memory reduces the overall memory footprint compared to storing redundant patterns. Dynamic allocation of hardware resources through rapid reconfiguration improves hardware utilization.\n*   **Lower Power Consumption:** By activating only the necessary configuration paths and avoiding large data transfers, power efficiency is improved.\n\n**Code-level Implications:**\nFor hardware description languages (HDL) like Verilog or VHDL, this patent implies a shift in how reconfigurable modules are instantiated and controlled. Instead of complex PR controllers, designers would interact with a simpler API that takes (PHU_ID, Mode_ID) as inputs. The underlying hardware would handle the address lookup and configuration pattern application. This simplifies the software/firmware layers responsible for orchestrating adaptive behavior, potentially enabling higher-level synthesis tools to leverage runtime reconfigurability more effectively. This innovation, the Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems, thus represents a critical enabler for truly dynamic and adaptive computing systems.","business_analysis":"The **Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems** patent (US-9853644) introduces a pivotal technological advancement with profound implications for various industries, addressing the growing demand for highly adaptable and efficient hardware. This innovation is poised to unlock significant market opportunities and reshape competitive landscapes.\n\n**Market Opportunity Size:**\nThe market for programmable logic devices (PLDs), including FPGAs, is expanding rapidly, driven by AI, IoT, 5G, data centers, and automotive applications. The global FPGA market alone is projected to reach tens of billions of dollars within the next decade. This patent targets a critical pain point within this market: the inefficiency of runtime reconfiguration. Any application benefiting from dynamic hardware adaptation—from edge AI accelerators to reconfigurable data center infrastructure—stands to gain. The addressable market includes embedded systems, telecommunications equipment, industrial automation, defense, and high-performance computing, collectively representing hundreds of billions in potential value where hardware agility is paramount.\n\n**Competitive Advantages:**\nThis technology provides several distinct competitive advantages:\n1.  **Superior Performance:** The ability to achieve near-instantaneous hardware reconfiguration significantly reduces latency, a critical factor in real-time applications. This offers a substantial performance edge over solutions relying on slower, traditional partial reconfiguration methods.\n2.  **Enhanced Efficiency:** By optimizing configuration memory usage and enabling localized, on-demand hardware changes, the invention leads to better resource utilization and reduced power consumption. This is crucial for power-constrained edge devices and cost-sensitive data centers.\n3.  **Increased Flexibility and Adaptability:** Systems incorporating this technology can dynamically adapt to changing workloads, environmental conditions, or new algorithms, providing unparalleled operational flexibility. This future-proofs hardware designs against evolving requirements.\n4.  **Simplified Development:** By abstracting the complex configuration management, the patent simplifies the design and programming of reconfigurable systems, potentially accelerating time-to- market for new products.\n\n**Revenue Potential:**\nRevenue generation could stem from several avenues:\n*   **Licensing:** Patent holders could license the technology to major PLD manufacturers (e.g., Xilinx, Intel/Altera, Lattice Semiconductor) for integration into their next-generation FPGA architectures. This represents a high-margin revenue stream.\n*   **IP Core Sales:** Developing and selling IP cores that implement this configuration storage system for ASIC designers or as soft IP for FPGAs.\n*   **Chip Design & Manufacturing:** A company could design and manufacture specialized reconfigurable chips (ASICs or SoCs) that natively incorporate this technology, targeting specific high-value markets like AI inference or 5G base stations.\n*   **Software Tools:** Developing and selling enhanced design tools (EDA software) that leverage the capabilities of this patent to simplify adaptive hardware development.\n\n**Business Models:**\nPotential business models include:\n*   **IP Licensing Model:** Standard for foundational hardware patents, offering royalties per chip or fixed license fees.\n*   **Value-Added Silicon Provider:** Selling chips or modules with the integrated technology, commanding premium pricing due to superior performance and flexibility.\n*   **Ecosystem Enabler:** Providing a combination of IP, design tools, and support to foster adoption across the industry.\n\n**Strategic Positioning:**\nThis patent positions its adopters at the forefront of adaptive computing. Companies leveraging this technology can differentiate their offerings by providing hardware solutions that are inherently more agile, efficient, and responsive than competitors. It enables a shift from static hardware to dynamic, software-defined hardware, aligning with broader industry trends towards greater programmability and virtualization. Strategic alliances with major cloud providers, automotive manufacturers, and AI companies would be crucial for market penetration.\n\n**ROI Projections:**\nInvestment in this technology promises substantial returns through market share gains, premium pricing, and the creation of new product categories. For licensees, the ROI would be realized through increased product competitiveness, reduced development costs for their customers, and expansion into new application areas. For direct implementers, the ability to deliver unparalleled performance and efficiency in specialized hardware could lead to significant market leadership and profitability. The Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems addresses a fundamental need, making its commercial viability highly promising.","faqs":[{"answer":"The **Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems** is an innovative patent (US-9853644) that describes a novel method for efficiently configuring programmable logic devices (PLDs) at runtime. It focuses on systems with multiple programmable hardware units that can operate in various functional modes. The core idea is to enable these hardware units to switch between different configurations almost instantaneously, without the delays and complexities associated with traditional reconfiguration methods.\n\nInstead of laboriously reloading entire configuration bitstreams, this technology utilizes a shared memory that stores pre-compiled configuration patterns. Each programmable hardware unit is then equipped with an independent switch device that can rapidly select and retrieve the desired pattern from this shared memory. This is achieved through an intelligent addressing scheme, where an index of addresses points the switch to the correct configuration register.\n\nThe invention significantly enhances the agility and responsiveness of reconfigurable hardware, making it possible for devices to adapt their functionality on-the-fly. This has profound implications for industries requiring real-time adaptability, such as autonomous systems, edge AI, and advanced telecommunications. It represents a foundational shift in how dynamic hardware is managed and utilized, moving towards more flexible and efficient computing paradigms.\n\nKeywords: Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems, runtime reconfiguration, programmable logic devices, patent US-9853644, adaptive hardware, dynamic systems.","question":"What is Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems?"},{"answer":"The **Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems** operates through a clever architecture that streamlines configuration pattern retrieval and application. It comprises several key components working in concert.\n\nFirst, there's a **common and shared configuration memory**. Think of this as a central library that holds a vast collection of pre-compiled 'recipes' or patterns for all the different functional modes that various parts of the hardware can perform. Each recipe is stored in a specific 'configuration register' within this memory.\n\nSecond, each **programmable hardware unit** within the system (e.g., a processing block, a sensor interface) is connected to its own **independent switch device**, often a multiplexer. This switch acts like a dedicated librarian for that specific hardware unit.\n\nThird, an **index of addresses** is used. When a hardware unit needs to change its function, a system controller sends a simple, quick signal to the unit's independent switch. This signal, derived from the address index, tells the switch exactly which 'select line' to activate. The activated select line then directly points to the corresponding configuration register in the shared memory.\n\nFinally, the configuration pattern stored in that register is instantly retrieved and applied to the programmable hardware unit, reconfiguring it to the new functional mode. This method bypasses the need for streaming large bitstreams, making the reconfiguration process incredibly fast, efficient, and localized to only the necessary hardware unit. The Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems is highly efficient.\n\nKeywords: Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems, how it works, configuration memory, switch devices, address index, programmable hardware units, runtime adaptation, functional modes.","question":"How does Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems work?"},{"answer":"The **Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems** patent primarily solves the critical problem of inefficient and slow runtime reconfiguration in programmable logic devices (PLDs). In many advanced computing systems, hardware components need to dynamically switch between different operational modes or functions to adapt to changing tasks, data, or environmental conditions. For instance, an AI accelerator might need to switch between different neural network models, or a communication chip might need to adapt to varying network protocols.\n\nPrior art methods for reconfiguring these devices, such as full or partial reconfiguration, typically involve loading large streams of configuration data (bitstreams). This process is inherently time-consuming, often taking milliseconds, which is unacceptable for real-time applications. These delays can lead to performance bottlenecks, increased power consumption (due to idle periods or complex control logic), and a reduction in the overall agility of the system.\n\nThis invention provides a solution that enables near-instantaneous hardware adaptation. By pre-staging configuration patterns in a shared memory and using a direct, indexed selection mechanism via independent switch devices, it drastically reduces the latency associated with configuration changes. This allows programmable hardware units to transition between functional modes smoothly and rapidly, maximizing hardware utilization and system responsiveness. The Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems addresses the core limitations of static or ponderous reconfigurable hardware.\n\nKeywords: Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems, problem solved, runtime reconfiguration, programmable logic devices, latency, efficiency, adaptive computing, hardware bottlenecks, dynamic functionality.","question":"What problem does Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems solve?"},{"answer":"The patent **Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems** (US-9853644) lists no specific inventors or assignee in the provided data. Patent filings typically credit the individuals who conceived the invention as 'inventors' and the entity that owns the patent rights (often the employer of the inventors) as the 'assignee'.\n\nIn many cases, the patent is filed by a corporation or research institution, and the individual inventors are employees of that entity. The assignee holds the legal rights to the patent, including the ability to license or commercialize the technology. Without the specific names provided in the patent data, it's not possible to identify the individuals or organization directly responsible for the creation of the Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems from the given information.\n\nHowever, the existence of the patent signifies a significant intellectual contribution to the field of reconfigurable computing, reflecting the innovative work of engineers and researchers focused on dynamic hardware architectures. The impact of the Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems is global, regardless of the specific origin.\n\nKeywords: Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems, inventors, assignee, patent US-9853644, patent ownership, invention credit, reconfigurable computing, hardware innovation.","question":"Who invented Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems?"},{"answer":"The **Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems** offers a multitude of significant benefits, fundamentally enhancing the capabilities of programmable logic devices and adaptive computing systems.\n\nFirstly, and most critically, it provides **drastically reduced reconfiguration latency**. By pre-storing configuration patterns and enabling direct, indexed access via independent switches, hardware units can change their functional modes in microseconds or even nanoseconds, a vast improvement over the milliseconds typically associated with traditional partial reconfiguration. This allows for truly real-time adaptation.\n\nSecondly, it leads to **optimized hardware utilization and efficiency**. Since configuration patterns are stored in a common, shared memory, redundancy is minimized. Furthermore, the ability to rapidly repurpose hardware units means fewer idle resources, leading to better silicon utilization and potentially smaller, more cost-effective designs. This efficiency also translates into **lower power consumption**, as only the necessary configurations are active and large data transfers are avoided.\n\nThirdly, the invention offers **unparalleled flexibility and adaptability**. Systems can dynamically respond to changing workloads, sensor inputs, or environmental conditions with instant hardware adjustments. This future-proofs hardware designs and enables new applications in autonomous systems, Edge AI, and telecommunications.\n\nFinally, it contributes to a **simplified design flow**. By abstracting the complex management of configuration bitstreams, engineers can focus on defining functional modes, potentially accelerating development cycles and reducing design errors. The Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems is a cornerstone for next-gen hardware.\n\nKeywords: Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems, key benefits, low latency, hardware efficiency, power consumption, flexibility, adaptability, design simplification, real-time systems.","question":"What are the key benefits of Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems?"},{"answer":"The **Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems** distinguishes itself from prior art in runtime reconfigurable systems, such as traditional partial reconfiguration (PR), primarily through its novel approach to configuration data management and delivery.\n\nOne key difference lies in **configuration data storage and access**. Prior art PR often relies on streaming large configuration bitstreams from external memory or a dedicated configuration controller to the programmable logic device at runtime. This sequential data transfer is inherently slow. In contrast, this invention pre-stores all necessary configuration patterns in a **common and shared on-chip memory**. This eliminates the latency of external memory access and stream processing during a reconfiguration event, making patterns instantly available.\n\nAnother significant distinction is the use of **independent switch devices for each programmable hardware unit**. Traditional PR typically manages configuration for entire regions, often relying on a centralized controller. This patent assigns a dedicated switch (like a multiplexer) to each unit, allowing for highly granular, parallel, and localized reconfiguration. This means multiple units can be reconfigured simultaneously or independently without affecting other parts of the system, a stark contrast to global or region-wide PR events.\n\nFurthermore, the **address-indexed selection mechanism** is a major differentiator. Instead of decoding complex bitstreams, this patent uses a simple address index to tell each unit's switch exactly which pre-stored pattern to select. This dramatically simplifies the control logic and reduces the time needed for selection and application of the configuration. The Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems represents a paradigm shift from stream-based to indexed-based configuration.\n\nKeywords: Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems, prior art, partial reconfiguration, configuration data, latency, independent switches, address-indexed selection, hardware differentiation, adaptive computing.","question":"How is Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems different from prior art?"},{"answer":"The **Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems** patent is poised to have a transformative impact across a wide array of industries that demand high-performance, adaptable, and efficient computing. Its ability to enable near-instantaneous hardware reconfiguration addresses critical needs in several rapidly evolving sectors.\n\n**Autonomous Systems and Robotics** will significantly benefit, as self-driving cars, drones, and industrial robots require real-time adaptation to changing sensor inputs, environmental conditions, and task requirements. This technology allows their processing units to instantly switch between different perception, navigation, or control algorithms, enhancing safety and responsiveness.\n\n**Edge AI and IoT** will also see massive gains. Power-constrained devices at the network's edge can maximize efficiency by dynamically loading only the necessary AI models or hardware functions for a given task, extending battery life and improving performance. This enables more sophisticated and versatile smart cameras, industrial sensors, and consumer wearables.\n\n**Telecommunications**, particularly 5G and future network infrastructure, will leverage this innovation for dynamic network function virtualization and adaptive radio processing. Base stations can reconfigure their hardware in real-time to optimize for fluctuating traffic loads, different communication protocols, or evolving security needs.\n\n**High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Data Centers** can utilize this technology to create more efficient and flexible server architectures. Hardware accelerators can be dynamically repurposed for various workloads (e.g., switching between database queries, video encoding, and machine learning training), leading to higher utilization rates and reduced energy consumption. The Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems is a foundational technology for these sectors.\n\nKeywords: Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems, industry impact, autonomous systems, Edge AI, IoT, telecommunications, HPC, data centers, robotics, adaptive computing.","question":"What industries will Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems impact?"},{"answer":"The patent for **Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems** (US-9853644) was **filed on November 7, 2016**. The filing date is the date on which the patent application was submitted to the patent office, marking the official start of the patent prosecution process.\n\nThe patent was subsequently **published on December 26, 2017**. The publication date is when the patent office makes the details of the application publicly available, usually 18 months after the earliest filing date, or earlier if the applicant requests it. For utility patents in the United States, the publication date often precedes the grant date.\n\nWhile the provided data does not specify the grant date (when the patent was officially approved and issued), the publication date indicates when the technical details of the Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems became accessible to the public and potential competitors or licensees. Both dates are crucial for understanding the patent's timeline and its position within the technological landscape of adaptive computing. The filing date establishes priority for the invention.\n\nKeywords: Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems, filing date, publication date, patent US-9853644, patent timeline, intellectual property, reconfigurable systems patent, adaptive hardware history.","question":"When was Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems filed/granted?"},{"answer":"The commercial applications of the **Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems** are broad and impactful, primarily targeting markets that benefit from highly dynamic, efficient, and flexible hardware.\n\nIn **Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)**, this technology enables next-generation accelerators, especially at the edge. AI chips can dynamically switch between different neural network models or layers (e.g., for object detection, speech recognition, or natural language processing) in real-time, optimizing performance and power for the specific task at hand. This is crucial for smart cameras, autonomous vehicles, and industrial inspection systems.\n\nFor **Telecommunications and 5G/6G Infrastructure**, the patent facilitates more adaptive base stations and network equipment. Hardware can instantly reconfigure to handle varying data traffic loads, support different communication protocols (e.g., switching between sub-6GHz and mmWave processing), or adapt to new security algorithms, ensuring resilient and high-performance networks.\n\nIn **Automotive and Aerospace**, particularly for autonomous systems, this technology enables critical safety and performance enhancements. Vehicle control units can dynamically reconfigure their sensor fusion or control algorithms based on driving conditions (e.g., highway vs. city, clear vs. adverse weather), allowing for rapid adaptation to complex scenarios. Aerospace systems can adapt to different mission profiles or recover from partial failures.\n\n**Industrial Automation and Robotics** can leverage this for flexible manufacturing lines. Robots can instantly change their operational parameters or processing logic to adapt to different product types or assembly tasks, leading to greater efficiency and versatility. The Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems is a key enabler for Industry 4.0.\n\nKeywords: Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems, commercial applications, AI accelerators, 5G infrastructure, autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, robotics, Edge AI, real-time systems, flexible hardware.","question":"What are the commercial applications of Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems?"},{"answer":"The **Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems** lays a robust foundation for numerous future developments in adaptive computing. Its core principles of rapid, indexed configuration access open up exciting avenues for innovation.\n\nOne expected development is the **integration with advanced AI-driven orchestration**. Future systems might feature AI controllers that dynamically predict optimal hardware configurations based on real-time workload analysis, environmental conditions, and historical data. This would allow the hardware to proactively adapt, ensuring peak performance and efficiency without explicit human programming for every scenario. The Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems could become the backbone for self-optimizing hardware.\n\nAnother area of growth will be **dynamic fault tolerance and self-healing hardware**. With the ability to reconfigure individual units almost instantly, future systems could detect hardware faults or performance degradation and automatically reconfigure to bypass the faulty blocks, load redundant modules, or switch to a degraded but functional mode. This would significantly enhance the reliability and longevity of critical systems in harsh environments.\n\nFurthermore, we can anticipate advancements in **high-level synthesis (HLS) and compiler toolchains** that seamlessly integrate with this architecture. This would allow software developers to program adaptive hardware at a higher level of abstraction, where the toolchain automatically generates the configuration patterns, the address index, and manages the dynamic switching logic. This will democratize access to adaptive hardware capabilities.\n\nFinally, the technology could evolve to support **dynamic generation and modification of configuration patterns** within the shared memory itself, rather than just selecting pre-compiled ones. This would enable even greater flexibility, allowing hardware to truly 'learn' and adapt its own structure. These developments will solidify the **Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems** as a cornerstone of future computing architectures.\n\nKeywords: Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems, future developments, AI orchestration, fault tolerance, self-healing hardware, high-level synthesis, compiler toolchains, dynamic configuration, adaptive computing, hardware innovation.","question":"What are the future developments expected for Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems?"}],"topics":["Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems","US-9853644","runtime reconfigurable systems","programmable logic devices","dynamic hardware configuration","modern","computing","landscape"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems - Patent US-9853644","description":"Discover the Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems patent (US-9853644) for dynamic hardware configuration. Reduces latency, optimizes PLD performance. Full analysis.","keywords":["Multiple-layer Configuration Storage for Runtime Reconfigurable Systems","US-9853644","runtime reconfigurable systems","programmable logic devices","dynamic hardware configuration","FPGA","adaptive computing","configuration memory","multiplexers","low-latency reconfiguration","hardware efficiency","tech patent"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853644","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853644","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Multiple-layer configuration storage for runtime reconfigurable systems\" (US-9853644). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853644","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853644","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9853644","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-06-06T07:59:45.586Z"}