Network-on-Chip (NoC) Applications for IoT-Enabled Chip Systems: Latest Designs and Modern Applications

Network-on-Chip (NoC) technology has emerged as a critical innovation in the field of integrated circuit design, addressing the growing demands for efficient, scalable, and high-performance on-chip communication. This review provides a comprehensive examination of NoC, highlighting its architecture, key features, and current applications. NoC leverages a network-based approach, utilizing routers and links to interconnect various components on a chip, thereby overcoming the limitations of traditional System-on-chip (SoC) architectures that rely on shared bus systems. The review underscores NoC’s superior communication efficiency, scalability, and reduced latency, which are essential for modern high-performance computing, multi-core processors, and advanced embedded systems. It also explores NoC’s ability to optimize power consumption through dynamic voltage scaling and power gating, making it a favorable choice for energy-efficient designs. Despite its complexity, NoC’s modularity and adaptability make it suitable for a wide range of applications, from artificial intelligence accelerators to high-performance data centers. In conclusion, NoC stands as a transformative technology that enhances the performance and scalability of integrated circuits, paving the way for more sophisticated and powerful electronic systems. As the demand for higher computational capabilities and efficiency continues to rise, NoC is poised to play an increasingly vital role in the advancement of electronic design and architecture.