NCO IP Core: User Guide

ID 683406
Date 11/06/2017
Public
Document Table of Contents

3.8.1. Avalon-ST Interfaces in DSP IP Cores

Avalon-ST interfaces define a standard, flexible, and modular protocol for data transfers from a source interface to a sink interface.

The input interface is an Avalon-ST sink and the output interface is an Avalon-ST source. The Avalon-ST interface supports packet transfers with packets interleaved across multiple channels.

Avalon-ST interface signals can describe traditional streaming interfaces supporting a single stream of data without knowledge of channels or packet boundaries. Such interfaces typically contain data, ready, and valid signals. Avalon-ST interfaces can also support more complex protocols for burst and packet transfers with packets interleaved across multiple channels. The Avalon-ST interface inherently synchronizes multichannel designs, which allows you to achieve efficient, time-multiplexed implementations without having to implement complex control logic.

Avalon-ST interfaces support backpressure, which is a flow control mechanism where a sink can signal to a source to stop sending data. The sink typically uses backpressure to stop the flow of data when its FIFO buffers are full or when it has congestion on its output.