A computer chip having on-chip internetworked modules and implementing a
network protocol for on-chip and, also preferably, off-chip data
transfers. The modules on chip are interconnected through a plurality of
on-chip packet-switched local area networks or LANs. The familiar Internet
topology may be implemented on-chip with each module being treated as a
"host." A plurality of network interconnect (e.g. routers, gateways, etc.)
may also be provided to interconnect the plurality of LANs. The computer
chip implements a network protocol for on-chip data transfer. The network
protocol may be TCP/IP. In that case, the computer chip itself may be
treated as an Internet. This flexible chip architecture in that the
computer chip may have modules clustered conveniently according to
functionality, and the various modules may interact with one another
without overburdening the chip packing density. An addressing scheme based
on a modified TCP/IP protocol and involving an internetworked-chip module
address (ICMA) is disclosed. Intermodule and internetwork data
communication on the chip may be easily accomplished using
internetworked-chip module addresses.
