Congestion-aware routing algorithm for NoC using data packets

Network on Chip (NoC) is a communication framework for the Multiprocessor System on Chip (MPSoC). It is a router-based communication system. In NoC architecture, nodes of MPSoC are communicating through the network. Different routing algorithms have been developed by researchers, e.g., XY, intermittent XY, DyAD, and DyXY. The main problems in these algorithms are congestion and faults. Congestion and faults cause delay, which degrades the performance of NoC. A congestion-aware algorithm is used for the distribution of traffic over NoC and for the avoidance of congestion. In this paper, a congestion-aware routing algorithm is proposed. The algorithm works by sending congestion information in the data packet. The algorithm is implemented on a 4×4 mesh NoC using FPGA. The proposed algorithm decreases latency, increases throughput, and uses less bandwidth in sharing congestion information between routers in comparison to the existing congestion-aware routing algorithms.