Circuit Card Onboard Memory for Network Interface Controller Data Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network interface controller chips require access to cable assembly data stored in SFP or QSFP transceiver modules' EEPROMs, but physical space constraints, such as in half-height, half-length PCIe form factor NICs, limit the number of EEPROMs that can be onboard, making it challenging to support multiple communication ports with existing solutions.
Innovation Solution
A control unit reads cable assembly data from a single transceiver module's EEPROM and copies it to onboard non-volatile memory, then transfers it to multiple communication ports over serial buses, reducing the need for multiple onboard EEPROMs by using a single EEPROM to support four communication ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple onboard EEPROMs are used to support multiple communication ports, then each port can access cable assembly data directly, but the physical space required on the circuit card increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the function of multiple EEPROMs into a single shared EEPROM. Instead of having separate EEPROMs for each communication port, one EEPROM is shared among multiple ports, and a control unit manages data transfer to multiple ports from this single source, thereby reducing the physical space required on the circuit card.
Solution Approach 2:
The single EEPROM serves multiple functions by providing cable assembly data to multiple communication ports. The control unit enables this EEPROM to universally serve different ports as needed, making one component perform the role that previously required multiple separate components.
2Area of stationary object
If a single onboard EEPROM is used to reduce physical space, then circuit card area is reduced, but multiple communication ports cannot directly access cable assembly data
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the single shared EEPROM and multiple communication ports. It manages the data transfer process, reading cable assembly data from the EEPROM and distributing it to the appropriate ports over serial buses, thereby enabling the single EEPROM to serve multiple ports without requiring direct access from each port.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit performs preliminary actions by reading and storing cable assembly data from the shared EEPROM into internal buffers or registers before distributing it to multiple communication ports. This preliminary data retrieval and preparation simplifies the overall system architecture despite adding control logic.
3Speed
If EEPROM data is copied to onboard non-volatile memory, then data access speed to multiple ports is improved, but additional memory resources are required
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary action by reading cable assembly data from the shared EEPROM and storing it in onboard non-volatile memory in advance. This pre-loading enables faster data access to multiple communication ports without requiring the ports to directly access the EEPROM each time, thereby improving data transfer speed while using existing memory resources efficiently.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable assembly has a cable with a transceiver module on one end. The transceiver module is plugged into an interface connector of a circuit card, which also has a network interface controller chip, an onboard non-volatile memory, and a control unit. The control unit reads cable assembly data stored in a non-volatile memory of the transceiver module over a serial bus and copies the cable assembly data to the onboard non-volatile memory. The control unit initiates transfer of the cable assembly data from the onboard non-volatile memory to a communication port of the network interface controller chip over another serial bus.