Communications Port Core Using Time Division Multiplexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In computer environments, implementing communications ports with high data transfer capacity like PCI Express requires significant resources and real estate, as existing solutions often necessitate separate circuitry for each port, leading to inefficiencies in bandwidth utilization and increased overhead.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a communications port is divided into multiple sub-ports using time division multiplexing, allowing the data transfer capacity to be allocated among them, thereby reducing the need for extensive resources and enabling flexible configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate circuitry is implemented for each communications port, then port functionality and data transfer capacity are ensured, but real estate consumption and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple port functionalities into a single shared core by implementing time division multiplexing. The core circuitry is shared among multiple sub-ports, with each sub-port allocated specific time slots for data transfer. This combining approach maintains full port functionality while significantly reducing the real estate required on the integrated circuit, as separate circuitry for each port is eliminated.
Solution Approach 2:
The single core is designed to be universal and multi-functional, serving multiple sub-ports through time division multiplexing. The core can dynamically allocate its data transfer capacity to different sub-ports based on their needs, making it a universal resource that replaces multiple dedicated circuits. This multi-functionality ensures that port functionality is maintained while reducing overall device complexity and real estate consumption.
2Speed
If full data transfer capacity is allocated to each port, then high bandwidth is achieved, but resource utilization efficiency decreases when not all capacity is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where the core's data transfer capacity is not statically assigned to each port but dynamically allocated based on real-time requirements. The system can adjust the amount of bandwidth allocated to each sub-port according to actual data transfer needs, ensuring high speed capability when needed while improving overall productivity by avoiding wasted capacity when full bandwidth is not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of data transfer capacity allocation dynamically. Instead of fixing each port at a predetermined bandwidth, the core can modify the data transfer capacity allocated to each sub-port based on demand. This parameter change approach allows the system to maintain high speed capability when full capacity is needed while improving bandwidth utilization efficiency during periods of lower demand by allocating only the necessary capacity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate ports are implemented, then connectivity flexibility is improved, but component count and real estate requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single core into multiple virtual sub-ports through time division multiplexing. Each sub-port appears as a separate connectivity interface to external devices, maintaining connectivity flexibility and adaptability. However, internally, these are not separate physical components but segmented logical entities sharing the same core hardware. This segmentation approach provides the versatility of multiple ports while minimizing device complexity and component count.
Data Source
AI summary
There is described an apparatus and method for implementing a communications port. The apparatus comprises a core, which is operable to divide the port into a plurality of sub-ports by dividing a data transfer capacity of the port among the plurality of sub-ports using time division multiplexing. Each sub-port is allocated a corresponding data transfer capacity.