The term "AXI" stands for Advanced eXtensible Interface, which refers to a widely-used bus protocol in computer systems. AXI is designed to efficiently connect different modules and components within a system-on-chip (SoC) or SystemC-based simulation environment. It enables a high-bandwidth and low-latency communication between various hardware IP blocks, like processors, memory controllers, DMA (Direct Memory Access) engines, and peripheral devices.
An AXI interface consists of several channels, each dedicated to a specific type of data transfer. The AXI protocol includes Read and Write channels, which define the communication flow for data read from and written to the memory system. Furthermore, it includes separate channels for transaction management, control signaling, and interrupt handling, ensuring efficient and orderly communication between different IPs.
The AXI protocol provides key features for building complex and high-performance integrated circuits. It offers burst transfers that allow multiple continuous data transfers in a single transaction, thereby minimizing overhead and maximizing bandwidth efficiency. Additionally, it supports out-of-order transaction capabilities, which can enhance overall system performance. AXI also provides flow control mechanisms to maintain proper data synchronization and prevent data loss between sender and receiver IP blocks.
Due to its versatility, AXI has become a de facto standard in the development of advanced SoCs, being widely supported by industry-leading semiconductor manufacturers and design tools. Its usage has greatly simplified the interconnection process of complex integrated systems, enabling seamless integration and interoperability among various hardware modules.
