Information transmission system and method
By designing an information transmission system compatible with the PIPE interface in the original technology, and utilizing the mode switching unit in the media layer module and signal conversion module, compatibility with PCIE GEN4 and GEN5 and later architectures was achieved, solving the problem of interface design incompatibility and ensuring the stability and flexibility of data transmission.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202511140785.7
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-08-14
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-28
AI Technical Summary
In existing technologies, the PIPE interface is not compatible with different architectures of PCIE GEN4 and GEN5 and later, resulting in interface design incompatibility.
An information transmission system is designed, including a media layer module and a signal conversion module. The signal conversion module includes a physical layer and a mode switching unit. By switching the transmission mode and adding a mode switching unit, the architecture can be switched to ensure that data is transmitted according to the current architecture's transmission method.
It achieves hardware compatibility with both the original architecture and the SERDES architecture, and can switch architectures as needed to ensure data transmission compatibility and stability.
Smart Images
Figure CN121037327A_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, in particular to an information transmission system and method. BACKGROUND
[0002] The PIPE (The PHY Interface for the PCI Express, PCIe physical layer interface) interface is used to realize the interconnection between PCIE and PHY (physical layer). Under the application of PCIE GEN4, the PIPE interface usually uses the original architecture; under the application of PCIE GEN5 and later, the PIPE interface usually uses the SERDES architecture. One architecture cannot be compatible with PCIE GEN4 and GEN5 and later applications, so an interface design capable of being compatible with the original architecture and the SERDES architecture is needed. SUMMARY
[0003] Therefore, the present application provides an information transmission system and method to solve the problem of being incompatible with the original architecture and the SERDES architecture.
[0004] In a first aspect, the present application provides an information transmission system, which comprises:
[0005] a media layer module and a signal conversion module, the signal conversion module being switched to a transmission mode corresponding to the mode configuration signal when receiving the mode configuration signal;
[0006] the signal conversion module comprises a physical layer and a mode switching unit; the physical layer is in communication connection with the media layer module and is used to receive data output by the media layer module; the mode switching unit is in communication connection with the media layer module and the physical layer respectively and is used to determine data output from the physical layer to the media layer module based on the current transmission mode and output to the media layer module.
[0007] In an optional implementation, the physical layer comprises a physical coding sublayer and a physical media adaptation layer;
[0008] the physical media adaptation layer is in communication connection with the physical coding sublayer;
[0009] the physical coding sublayer is in communication connection with the media layer module and sends data output by the media layer module to the physical media adaptation layer;
[0010] the physical coding sublayer is in communication connection with the mode switching unit and sends data output by the physical media adaptation layer to the mode switching unit.
[0011] In an optional implementation, the physical coding sublayer comprises at least one coding unit and a bypass unit;
[0012] The encoding unit is used to encode or decode the data received by the physical coding sublayer;
[0013] The bypass unit is used to pass through the data received by the physical coding sublayer.
[0014] In one optional implementation, the signal conversion module further includes a clock isolation unit;
[0015] The clock isolation unit is communicatively connected to both the physical layer and the mode switching unit. The clock isolation unit is used to perform phase isolation on data from different clock domains.
[0016] In one alternative implementation, the media layer module includes a media layer, a first transmitting interface, and a first receiving interface;
[0017] The first sending interface is connected to both the media layer and the physical layer, and is used to send the data output by the media layer to the physical layer.
[0018] The first receiving interface is communicatively connected to both the media layer and the mode switching unit. The first receiving interface is used to send the data output by the signal conversion module to the media layer.
[0019] In one optional implementation, the signal conversion module further includes a second transmitting interface and a second receiving interface;
[0020] The second sending interface is connected to both the media layer module and the physical layer, and is used to send the data output by the media layer module to the physical layer.
[0021] The second receiving interface is communicatively connected to both the media layer module and the mode switching unit. The second receiving interface is used to send the data output by the mode switching unit to the media layer module.
[0022] In one alternative implementation, the first transmitting interface is communicatively connected to the second transmitting interface, and the first receiving interface is communicatively connected to the second receiving interface.
[0023] In a second aspect, the present invention provides an information transmission method, applied to an information transmission system of the first aspect or any corresponding embodiment thereof, the method comprising:
[0024] In response to the mode configuration signal, the signal conversion module switches to the transmission mode corresponding to the mode configuration signal;
[0025] The mode switching unit in the signal conversion module determines the target data from the data sent by the physical layer in the signal conversion module based on the current transmission mode;
[0026] The mode switching unit sends the target data to the media layer module.
[0027] In one alternative implementation, the method further includes:
[0028] The clock isolation unit in the signal conversion module receives data sent by the physical layer and multiple clock signals;
[0029] The clock isolation unit performs phase isolation on multiple clock signals and sends the data sent by the physical layer to the mode switching unit.
[0030] In one alternative implementation, the transmission mode includes the transmission mode corresponding to the original architecture and the transmission mode corresponding to the SERDES architecture.
[0031] The information transmission system provided in this embodiment of the invention switches transmission modes through a signal conversion module, thereby completing the architecture switch. Simultaneously, by adding a mode switching unit to the signal conversion module, a mode switching unit is added to the data transmission between the media layer module and the physical layer. This unit selects the data output from the physical layer to the media layer module, outputting data consistent with the current transmission mode to the media layer module. This ensures that data is transmitted according to the transmission method corresponding to the currently switched architecture, thus achieving hardware structural compatibility with both the original architecture and the SERDES architecture, and enabling architecture switching as needed. Attached Figure Description
[0032] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.
[0033] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the original architecture in related technologies;
[0034] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the SERDES architecture in related technologies;
[0035] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an information transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of an information transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] Figure 5 This is a flowchart of an information transmission method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation
[0038] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0039] The PIPE (PHY Interface for the PCIe) interface is used to enable interconnection between PCIe and the PHY (physical layer). In PCIe Gen 4 applications, the PIPE interface typically uses the original architecture; in PCIe Gen 5 and later applications, the PIPE interface typically uses the SERDES architecture. However, one architecture cannot be compatible with both PCIe Gen 4 and Gen 5 and later applications; therefore, an interface design compatible with both the original and SERDES architectures is needed.
[0040] Specifically, Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the original architecture in related technologies, such as... Figure 1 As shown, in the original architecture, the Physical Coding Sublayer (PCS) and the Physical Medium Attachment (PMA) are integrated in the SerDes (Serializer / Deserializer) device. The PCS implements the encoding function, and the Media Access Layer (MAC) is interconnected with the SerDes device through the PIPE interface, which adopts the original communication mode. Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of the SERDES architecture in related technologies, such as... Figure 2 As shown, in the SERDES architecture, the encoding function of the physical coding sublayer is implemented in the media layer. The media layer is interconnected with the SerDes device through the PIPE interface, which adopts the SERDES communication mode. It is evident that in related technologies, the original architecture and the SERDES architecture are incompatible in terms of hardware architecture, and they also differ in terms of software algorithms.
[0041] Based on this, embodiments of the present invention provide an information transmission system, comprising: a media layer module and a signal conversion module. When the signal conversion module receives a mode configuration signal, it switches to the transmission mode corresponding to the mode configuration signal. The signal conversion module includes: a physical layer and a mode switching unit. The physical layer is communicatively connected to the media layer module and is used to receive data output by the media layer module. The mode switching unit is communicatively connected to both the media layer module and the physical layer, and is used to determine the data output from the physical layer to the media layer module based on the current transmission mode, and output it to the media layer module. Thus, by switching the transmission mode through the signal conversion module, the architecture switch is completed. Simultaneously, by adding a mode switching unit to the signal conversion module, a mode switching unit is added to the data transmission between the media layer module and the physical layer. This unit selects the data output from the physical layer to the media layer module, outputting data consistent with the current transmission mode to the media layer module. This ensures that data is transmitted according to the transmission method corresponding to the currently switched architecture, thereby achieving hardware structural compatibility with both the original architecture and the SERDES architecture, and enabling architecture switching as needed.
[0042] According to embodiments of the present invention, an embodiment of an information transmission system is provided. It should be noted that the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more.
[0043] This embodiment provides an information transmission system for implementing a PIPE interface compatible with both the original architecture and the SERDES architecture. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an information transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the system includes a media layer module and a signal conversion module. When the signal conversion module receives a mode configuration signal, it switches to the transmission mode corresponding to the mode configuration signal. The mode configuration signal configures and switches the architecture of the PIPE interface after the system is powered on. Correspondingly, upon receiving the mode configuration signal, the signal conversion module switches the transmission mode to the transmission mode corresponding to the mode configuration signal. The transmission mode can specifically include the selection of the signal type and transmission method transmitted through the PIPE interface.
[0044] Specifically, the signal conversion module, also known as the SerDes device, includes a physical layer and a mode switching unit. The physical layer communicates with the media layer module and receives data output from it. The mode switching unit communicates with both the media layer module and the physical layer, determining the data to be output from the physical layer to the media layer module based on the current transmission mode, and then outputting that data to the media layer module. In other words, in the direction of data transmission from the media layer module to the physical layer (i.e., the data sending direction), the media layer module communicates directly with the physical layer and transmits data directly to it. In the direction of data transmission from the physical layer to the media layer module (i.e., the data receiving direction), the physical layer, through the mode switching unit, determines the data conforming to the current transmission mode and then transmits it to the media layer module.
[0045] In one alternative implementation, Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of an information transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the physical layer includes a Physical Coding Sublayer (PCS) and a Physical Medium Attachment (PMA). The PCS is used for encoding and decoding data, while the PMA is used for serialization and deserialization. The PMA communicates with the PCS, receiving data from the media layer module sent by the PCS and outputting data to the PCS for processing before sending it back to the media layer module.
[0046] In one alternative implementation, such as Figure 4 As shown, the physical coding sublayer communicates with the media layer module on one hand, sending the data output by the media layer module to the physical media adapter layer; that is, in the data transmission direction, the physical coding sublayer directly communicates with the media layer module and directly receives the data output by the media layer module. On the other hand, the physical coding sublayer communicates with the mode switching unit (mux), sending the data output by the physical media adapter layer to the mode switching unit; that is, in the data reception direction, the physical coding sublayer communicates with the media layer module through the mode switching unit, so the data output by the physical coding sublayer is selected by the mode switching unit before being output to the media layer module.
[0047] In one alternative implementation, such as Figure 4 As shown, the physical coding sublayer includes at least one coding unit and a bypass unit. The coding unit is used to encode or decode the data received by the physical coding sublayer; the bypass unit is used to pass through the data received by the physical coding sublayer.
[0048] Specifically, such as Figure 4As shown, the encoding unit in the physical encoding sublayer can include a first encoding unit and a second encoding unit. The first encoding unit implements 8b / 10b encoding, mapping 8-bit data to 10-bit symbols, while the second encoding unit implements 128b / 130b encoding, mapping 128-bit data to 130-bit symbols. The physical encoding sublayer can select the corresponding encoding method and encoding unit according to the PCIe protocol version to encode the data. The first and second encoding units primarily encode data in the original architecture. In the SERDES architecture, data encoding is performed by the media layer, and the physical encoding sublayer no longer needs to encode the data; in this case, a bypass unit is used to directly transmit the data.
[0049] In one alternative implementation, since the signal conversion module involves data from multiple different clock domains simultaneously, phase isolation is required for the data in different clock domains to ensure signal integrity and system stability. Accordingly, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the signal conversion module also includes a clock isolation unit (phase_adj). The clock isolation unit is communicatively connected to both the physical layer and the mode switching unit. The clock isolation unit is used to perform phase isolation on data from different clock domains. Specifically, the data of the physical media adapter layer and the media layer module are in different clock domains, so the clock isolation unit performs phase isolation on the clock domains of the physical media adapter layer and the media layer module.
[0050] In one alternative implementation, such as Figure 4 As shown, the media layer module includes a media layer, a first transmitting interface, and a first receiving interface. The first transmitting interface is communicatively connected to both the media layer and the physical layer, and is used to transmit data output from the media layer to the physical layer. The first receiving interface is communicatively connected to both the media layer and the mode switching unit, and is used to transmit data output from the signal conversion module to the media layer.
[0051] In one alternative implementation, such as Figure 4 As shown, the signal conversion module also includes a second transmitting interface and a second receiving interface. The second transmitting interface is communicatively connected to both the media layer module and the physical layer, and is used to transmit data output from the media layer module to the physical layer. The second receiving interface is communicatively connected to both the media layer module and the mode switching unit, and is used to transmit data output from the mode switching unit to the media layer module.
[0052] In one alternative implementation, such as Figure 4As shown, the first transmitting interface corresponds to the second transmitting interface, and as a pair of transmitting interfaces, the first transmitting interface and the second transmitting interface are communicatively connected; the first receiving interface corresponds to the second receiving interface, and as a pair of receiving interfaces, the first receiving interface and the second receiving interface are communicatively connected.
[0053] In this embodiment of the invention, when switching to the original architecture, the data encoding is performed by the physical encoding sublayer in the signal conversion module. At this time, in the data transmission direction, the medium layer directly outputs data through the first transmission interface. After receiving the data output by the medium layer through the second transmission interface, the physical encoding sublayer encodes the data and outputs it to the physical media adapter layer. In the data reception direction, the physical media adapter layer outputs data. The physical encoding sublayer encodes the data output by the physical media adapter layer or directly transmits it. Then, the mode switching unit selects the data corresponding to the transmission mode for the physical encoding sublayer, that is, selects the encoded data, outputs the data through the second receiving interface, and the medium layer receives the data through the first receiving interface. When switching to the SERDES architecture, the data encoding is performed by the media layer. In the data transmission direction, the media layer encodes the data and outputs it through the first transmission interface. The physical encoding sublayer receives the data output by the media layer through the second transmission interface and then transmits the data to the physical media adapter layer. In the data reception direction, the physical media adapter layer outputs data. The physical encoding sublayer encodes the data output by the physical media adapter layer or transmits it directly. Then, the mode switching unit selects the data corresponding to the transmission mode for the physical encoding sublayer, i.e., selects the data to be directly transmitted, and outputs the data through the second receiving interface. The media layer receives the data through the first receiving interface.
[0054] The information transmission system provided in this invention includes a media layer module and a signal conversion module. When the signal conversion module receives a mode configuration signal, it switches to the transmission mode corresponding to the mode configuration signal. The signal conversion module includes a physical layer and a mode switching unit. The physical layer is communicatively connected to the media layer module and is used to receive data output by the media layer module. The mode switching unit is communicatively connected to both the media layer module and the physical layer, and is used to determine the data output from the physical layer to the media layer module based on the current transmission mode, and then output it to the media layer module. Thus, by switching the transmission mode through the signal conversion module, the architecture switch is completed. Simultaneously, by adding a mode switching unit to the signal conversion module, a mode switching unit is added to the data transmission between the media layer module and the physical layer. This unit selects the data output from the physical layer to the media layer module, outputting data consistent with the current transmission mode to the media layer module. This ensures that data is transmitted according to the transmission method corresponding to the currently switched architecture, thereby achieving hardware structural compatibility with both the original architecture and the SERDES architecture, and enabling architecture switching as needed.
[0055] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an embodiment of an information transmission method is provided. It should be noted that the steps shown in the flowchart in the accompanying drawings can be executed in a computer system such as a set of computer-executable instructions. Furthermore, although a logical order is shown in the flowchart, in some cases, the steps shown or described may be executed in a different order than that shown here.
[0056] This embodiment provides an information transmission method that can be used in the aforementioned information transmission system. Figure 5 This is a flowchart of an information transmission method according to an embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the process includes the following steps:
[0057] In step S501, in response to the mode configuration signal, the signal conversion module switches to the transmission mode corresponding to the mode configuration signal.
[0058] In this embodiment of the invention, after the system is powered on, the user selects the PIPE interface architecture according to their needs, thereby sending a mode configuration signal to the information transmission system. The signal conversion module responds to the mode configuration signal and switches the transmission mode to the mode corresponding to the mode configuration signal. Since the hardware structure is fixed and cannot be changed, the configuration and modification of the PIPE interface architecture are actually performed by switching the data transmission mode. Specifically, the transmission mode can include the selection of the signal type and transmission method transmitted through the PIPE interface.
[0059] In one optional implementation, the transmission modes include the transmission mode corresponding to the original architecture and the transmission mode corresponding to the SERDES architecture. In the original architecture, data is encoded by the physical coding sublayer, while in the SERDES architecture, data is encoded by the media layer.
[0060] In step S502, the mode switching unit in the signal conversion module determines the target data from the data sent by the physical layer in the signal conversion module based on the current transmission mode.
[0061] In this embodiment of the invention, the mode switching unit in the signal conversion module determines the target data to be finally output to the media layer module from the data sent from the physical layer in the data receiving direction, based on the currently selected transmission mode. Specifically, in the original architecture, data encoded using the corresponding encoding method is selected as the target data; in the SERDES architecture, transparently transmitted data is selected as the target data.
[0062] In step S503, the mode switching unit sends the target data to the media layer module.
[0063] In this embodiment of the invention, after determining the target data, the mode switching unit sends the target data to the media layer module. Specifically, the mode switching unit outputs the target data to the first receiving interface through the second receiving interface, and then outputs it to the media layer via the first receiving interface.
[0064] In one optional implementation, to ensure signal integrity and system stability, phase isolation is performed on data from different clock domains. Specifically, the clock isolation unit in the signal conversion module receives data sent by the physical layer and multiple clock signals; the clock isolation unit performs phase isolation on the multiple clock signals and sends the data sent by the physical layer to the mode switching unit.
[0065] In this embodiment of the invention, when switching to the original architecture, the data encoding is performed by the physical encoding sublayer in the signal conversion module. At this time, in the data transmission direction, the medium layer directly outputs data through the first transmission interface. After receiving the data output by the medium layer through the second transmission interface, the physical encoding sublayer encodes the data and outputs it to the physical media adapter layer. In the data reception direction, the physical media adapter layer outputs data. The physical encoding sublayer encodes the data output by the physical media adapter layer or directly transmits it. Then, the mode switching unit selects the data corresponding to the transmission mode for the physical encoding sublayer, that is, selects the encoded data, outputs the data through the second receiving interface, and the medium layer receives the data through the first receiving interface. When switching to the SERDES architecture, the data encoding is performed by the media layer. In the data transmission direction, the media layer encodes the data and outputs it through the first transmission interface. The physical encoding sublayer receives the data output by the media layer through the second transmission interface and then transmits the data to the physical media adapter layer. In the data reception direction, the physical media adapter layer outputs data. The physical encoding sublayer encodes the data output by the physical media adapter layer or transmits it directly. Then, the mode switching unit selects the data corresponding to the transmission mode for the physical encoding sublayer, i.e., selects the data to be directly transmitted, and outputs the data through the second receiving interface. The media layer receives the data through the first receiving interface.
[0066] The information transmission method provided in this invention includes: responding to a mode configuration signal, a signal conversion module switches to the transmission mode corresponding to the mode configuration signal; a mode switching unit in the signal conversion module determines target data from the data sent by the physical layer in the signal conversion module based on the current transmission mode; and the mode switching unit sends the target data to the media layer module. Thus, by switching the transmission mode through the signal conversion module, the architecture switch is completed. Simultaneously, by adding a mode switching unit to the signal conversion module, a mode switching unit is added to the data transmission between the media layer module and the physical layer. This unit selects the data output from the physical layer to the media layer module, outputting data consistent with the current transmission mode to the media layer module. This ensures that data is transmitted according to the transmission method corresponding to the currently switched architecture, thereby achieving hardware structural compatibility with both the original architecture and the SERDES architecture, and enabling architecture switching as needed.
[0067] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and such modifications and variations all fall within the scope defined by the present invention.
Claims
1. An information transmission system, characterized in that, The system includes: The medium layer module and the signal conversion module, wherein the signal conversion module switches to the transmission mode corresponding to the mode configuration signal when it receives the mode configuration signal; The signal conversion module includes: a physical layer and a mode switching unit; the physical layer is communicatively connected to the media layer module and is used to receive data output by the media layer module; the mode switching unit is communicatively connected to both the media layer module and the physical layer and is used to determine the data output from the physical layer to the media layer module based on the current transmission mode, and output it to the media layer module.
2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The physical layer includes a physical coding sublayer and a physical media adaptation layer; The physical media adaptation layer is communicatively connected to the physical coding sublayer; The physical coding sublayer is communicatively connected to the media layer module, and sends the data output by the media layer module to the physical media adaptation layer; The physical coding sublayer is communicatively connected to the mode switching unit and sends the data output by the physical media adaptation layer to the mode switching unit.
3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The physical coding sublayer includes at least one coding unit and a bypass unit; The encoding unit is used to encode or decode the data received by the physical encoding sublayer; The bypass unit is used to pass through the data received by the physical coding sublayer.
4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The signal conversion module further includes: a clock isolation unit; The clock isolation unit is communicatively connected to the physical layer and the mode switching unit, and is used to perform phase isolation on data from different clock domains.
5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The media layer module includes a media layer, a first transmitting interface, and a first receiving interface; The first sending interface is communicatively connected to both the media layer and the physical layer, and is used to send the data output by the media layer to the physical layer. The first receiving interface is communicatively connected to both the media layer and the mode switching unit, and is used to send the data output by the signal conversion module to the media layer.
6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The signal conversion module also includes a second transmitting interface and a second receiving interface; The second sending interface is communicatively connected to both the media layer module and the physical layer, and is used to send the data output by the media layer module to the physical layer. The second receiving interface is communicatively connected to both the media layer module and the mode switching unit, and is used to send the data output by the mode switching unit to the media layer module.
7. The system according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The first transmitting interface is communicatively connected to the second transmitting interface, and the first receiving interface is communicatively connected to the second receiving interface.
8. An information transmission method, characterized in that, Applied to the information transmission system according to any one of claims 1-7, the method comprises: In response to the mode configuration signal, the signal conversion module switches to the transmission mode corresponding to the mode configuration signal; The mode switching unit in the signal conversion module determines the target data from the data sent by the physical layer of the signal conversion module based on the current transmission mode; The mode switching unit sends the target data to the media layer module.
9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The method further includes: The clock isolation unit in the signal conversion module receives data sent by the physical layer and multiple clock signals; The clock isolation unit performs phase isolation on the plurality of clock signals and sends the data sent by the physical layer to the mode switching unit.
10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, The transmission modes include the transmission modes corresponding to the original architecture and the transmission modes corresponding to the SERDES architecture.