Query on setting multicast on a 2D mesh NoC

[matthew-mx]

Hello， I am tring to instancing a 2D mesh architecture such that a column of PEs could multicast to another column. I have refered to the Simple_PIM and the XY_NoC example, and I think the lattern might match my need. My problem now is how to set such network inside the layer of RF, as the examples only show a way to set a network between 2 adjacent layers. Besides, what is the use of DummyBuffer (in the former example)? Thanks!

[angshuman-parashar]

Timeloop's network abstraction is that all the nodes at a storage level have ports into a network, and the parent level also has a port on that same network. So the network is used both for parent<->child communication as well as for peer-to-peer communication between children.

DummyBuffer is just a wrapper used to create a spatial level without instantiating a real buffer at that level. This exposes a complete additional set of mapping dimensions.

[matthew-mx]

In a network MUST peers have a same parent node？ I am working on a chip similar to Tesla's Dojo, using multi-channel memory (every channel is individual and corresponds to a PE). In my primary design there is a 4-layer architecture, root=> channel, channel=>RF, RF=>mac, and the RFs compose a 2D mesh. Another tentative idea is to abstract the multi-channel feature into the network between memory and PE. Does Timeloop theoretically support them？

[matthew-mx]

Besides, why does the eyeriss_like example (in both baseline_design and timeloop tutorial) use legacy network instead of XY_NoC mentioned in acclergy tutorial? XY_NoC.yaml.txt eyeriss_like.yaml.txt

[matthew-mx]

The eyeriss_like example is according to the 1st version, and it is the 1D muticast type in the graph. Is this right? Thanks