Cascaded Serialized Data Stream Phase Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems face latency issues due to framing and serialization operations in cascaded devices, particularly at high-speed communication rates, which hinder efficient data processing and transmission.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of integrated circuit devices with phase aligning circuitry that aligns but does not frame serialized data streams, allowing for cascaded communication without framing within the device, thereby reducing latency and enhancing communication efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If framing and serialization operations are performed in each cascaded device, then data can be processed and transmitted through multiple devices, but latency increases due to repeated framing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the framing operation from intermediate cascaded devices, retaining it only at the first device. Serialized data streams pass through intermediate devices without framing operations, eliminating redundant processing steps and reducing overall latency while maintaining data transmission capability through the cascade.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the framing function across the cascaded device architecture, assigning different roles to different devices. The first device performs framing on incoming parallel data streams, while intermediate devices handle only serialization and phase alignment, creating a divided labor system that reduces processing latency.
2Speed
If parallel data streams are converted to serialized data streams in each cascaded device, then data can be transmitted through serial links, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the parallel-to-serialized conversion function into a single first cascaded device, while intermediate devices handle only phase alignment and forwarding. This consolidation reduces the overall system complexity by eliminating redundant conversion circuitry from intermediate devices while maintaining high-speed serial communication capability.
3Loss of time
If phase alignment is performed without framing in intermediate devices, then latency is reduced, but precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs phase alignment in intermediate devices on already-serialized data streams without requiring framing. By aligning phases during the serialization process rather than after complete framing, the system reduces processing delay while the preliminary serialization structure provides sufficient reference points for achieving required alignment precision.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, an apparatus cascades groups of serialized data streams through devices, and performs operations based on information communicated therein. A received group of serialized data streams is aligned, but not framed, and forwarded to a next device (e.g., a next stage in a linear or tree cascaded formation of devices). Eliminating the framing and subsequent serialization operations performed on the received group of serialized data streams reduces the latency of communications through the cascaded devices, which can be significant when considered in relation to the high-speed communication rates. The received group of serialized data streams is also framed to create a sequence of data frames for processing (e.g., associative memory lookup operations, controlling multiplexing of received downstream serialized data streams, general or other processing) within the device.