Bidirectional Network Interface for Processor Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication networks in electronic circuits with multiple data processing units face challenges in managing network bandwidth for credit reports, leading to inefficiencies and potential delays in data transmission, especially in bidirectional communication scenarios.

Innovation Solution

Implementing bidirectional network interfaces that combine data and credit reports within outgoing messages and dynamically adjust transmission thresholds based on available buffer space, allowing for reduced network bandwidth usage without compromising data transmission rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If credit reports are sent separately through the network, then the transmitting circuit can maintain accurate credit information, but network bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecredit information accuracyVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines credit reports with data messages by embedding credit information in the header of outgoing data messages. This merging eliminates separate credit report transmissions, reducing network bandwidth consumption while maintaining credit information accuracy through the integrated reporting mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The network interface is designed to perform multiple functions: transmitting data, reporting credit information, and managing buffer space availability. By making the credit reporting mechanism universal and applicable to all outgoing messages, the system reduces overall network bandwidth usage without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Quantity of substance

If network bandwidth for credit reports is reduced by combining with data messages, then bandwidth consumption decreases, but data transmission rate may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork bandwidth consumptionVSAvoiddata transmission rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the threshold for sending credit reports based on buffer space availability and transmission conditions. The transmission control circuit monitors buffer space and programmable thresholds, adapting the credit reporting behavior in real-time to prevent suspension of data transmission while maintaining accurate credit information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses programmable thresholds that can be adjusted to optimize the balance between credit reporting frequency and data transmission rate. By changing parameters such as the threshold for triggering credit reports and the amount of credit information embedded, the system maintains productivity while reducing bandwidth consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If credit reports are embedded in data messages, then network bandwidth is reduced, but the transmitting circuit may need to wait for data to attach credit reports

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork bandwidth consumptionVSAvoidtransmission delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The transmitting circuit prepares credit information in advance by monitoring buffer space availability and pre-calculating credit report content. This preliminary action ensures that when data messages are ready for transmission, the associated credit reports are already prepared and can be embedded without causing transmission delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous monitoring of buffer space and continuous preparation of credit information, ensuring that the embedding of credit reports in data messages does not interrupt or suspend the data transmission flow. The useful action of data transmission continues uninterrupted while credit information is seamlessly integrated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS8068508B2Electronic circuit with processing units coupled via a communication network

Publication Date: 2011.11.29 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

A two-way network interface is provided for both sending transmission messages and receiving reception messages between a pair of processors through a network. The network interface uses transmission messages to transmit both data and information representing respective amounts of unreported buffer space R for receiving data items from reception messages in a buffer storage circuit. The network interface holds up transmission until a number A of data items, that a particular one of the data processing circuits has made available for transmission in the message and for which buffer space is available across the network, exceeds a threshold. However the threshold is lowered, or the transmission message is transmitted before the threshold is exceeded in response to an increase in the amount R of unreported available buffer space in the buffer storage circuit for the particular one of the processing circuits.