Platform Controller Bus Arbitration for Peripheral Signal Conflicts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic systems require multiple buses to connect and control multiple peripheral devices, increasing manufacturing costs and limiting compatibility due to signal conflicts on shared buses.
Innovation Solution
A platform controller connects multiple peripheral devices through a single bus by designating one device as a master to manage communications and prevent signal conflicts using a communication or interrupt signal line, allowing simultaneous connection without conflicts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple buses are used to connect multiple peripheral devices, then each device can be controlled independently, but the manufacturing cost increases and the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate bus connections into a single shared bus system. Multiple peripheral devices are connected to the platform controller through one common bus, eliminating the need for multiple independent buses. This reduces system complexity and manufacturing cost while maintaining the ability to communicate with multiple devices through protocol-level arbitration.
Solution Approach 2:
The single bus is designed to serve multiple functions by accommodating communications with multiple different peripheral devices. The bus infrastructure itself becomes universal, capable of handling various device types and communication patterns through software or protocol management rather than requiring dedicated hardware for each device.
2Device complexity
If multiple peripheral devices are connected through a single bus, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but signal conflicts occur on the bus
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic arbitration mechanisms that allow the bus to adaptively manage access rights based on current communication needs. The master peripheral device can dynamically grant or deny access to the bus for slave devices, and the platform controller can dynamically allocate bus access to different peripherals, ensuring that signal conflicts are resolved through real-time coordination rather than static hardware isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The master peripheral device acts as an intermediary between the platform controller and slave peripheral devices. It receives communication requests from the platform controller, manages access to the bus, and coordinates communications with slave devices. This intermediary role prevents direct conflicts between multiple devices on the shared bus by serializing access through a single managing entity.
3Device complexity
If a single bus is used to connect multiple peripheral devices, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the number of devices that can be connected is limited by bus capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the communication function across multiple levels: the platform controller segments communication initiation and management, the master peripheral device segments bus access coordination, and slave devices segment specific communication tasks. This functional segmentation allows the single physical bus to support more devices by distributing communication responsibilities rather than requiring each device to have direct independent access.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic system is provided. The electronic system includes a platform controller and a plurality of peripheral devices. The platform controller has a first bus. The plurality of peripheral devices are respectively connected to the platform controller through the first bus. The plurality of peripheral devices include a master peripheral device and a slave peripheral device. The master peripheral device is connected to the slave peripheral device through a communication signal line. The master peripheral device communicates with the platform controller through the first bus. When the master peripheral device receives a communication request from the slave peripheral device through the communication signal line, the master peripheral device provides a communication signal corresponding to the communication request to the first bus, so the slave peripheral device communicates with the platform controller through the first bus.