Peripheral Adapter Ignoring Benign Framing Errors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computing systems experience inefficiencies due to bandwidth waste caused by re-training links when framing errors occur, which disrupt data transfer and are not always necessary, as they do not affect data integrity.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a pre-load data structure within adapters that allows certain benign framing errors to be ignored, preventing unnecessary link re-training and maintaining data transfer continuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If link re-training is performed when framing errors occur, then data integrity is ensured, but bandwidth is wasted and data transfer efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of error handling behavior by introducing a configurable parameter that determines whether to trigger link re-training on framing errors. This allows the system to adapt between strict error handling (prioritizing reliability) and lenient error handling (prioritizing productivity) based on the specific framing error type and system requirements, thus resolving the contradiction between data integrity and transfer efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of always performing full link re-training for all framing errors, the patent applies partial action by selectively ignoring certain benign framing errors that do not actually compromise data integrity. This selective approach avoids the excessive action of unnecessary re-training while maintaining adequate error handling for serious errors, thereby improving productivity without sacrificing reliability
2Reliability
If link re-training is performed for every framing error, then communication reliability is improved, but bandwidth utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful aspect of universal link re-training by separating benign framing errors from serious framing errors. By taking out the unnecessary re-training actions for benign errors while maintaining re-training for serious errors, the system preserves communication reliability for critical cases while eliminating bandwidth waste from unnecessary re-training operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces parameters to classify and differentiate between types of framing errors, enabling selective handling. By changing the error handling parameter from a binary always-retrain approach to a conditional approach based on error type classification, the system optimizes both reliability and bandwidth utilization
3Reliability
If standard protocol procedures are followed for framing errors, then communication protocol compliance is maintained, but system efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the error handling procedure dynamic by allowing the system to adapt its response to framing errors based on the specific error type and system state. Instead of rigidly following standard protocol procedures for all cases, the system dynamically decides whether to follow standard re-training procedures or to ignore benign errors, thus balancing protocol compliance with system efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for ignoring protocol defined framing errors at a peripheral device coupled to a processor via an interconnect system are provided. When a framing error violation does not affect data transfer to the peripheral device or from the peripheral device, the protocol defined link training sequence is disabled to ignore the framing error and the peripheral device continues to process data regardless of the framing error.