Communication Interface With Multi-Port Memory And Transcoding Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Interconnecting devices from different communication protocol worlds, such as personal computers and mass-market products, is complex due to the need for specific interfaces and transcoding subprograms, which requires user knowledge and a PC intermediary, and not all portable PCs can accommodate additional interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A communication interface with a volatile memory and multiple transcoding circuits for different protocols, allowing independent access and synchronization, simplifying data formatting and packetization between various communication buses without the need for complex memory management or user expertise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a PC with multiple communication interfaces is used to interconnect devices from different protocol worlds, then the ability to communicate between different protocols is improved, but the device complexity and requirement for user knowledge increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated interface device that acts as an intermediary between different communication protocols. This interface contains multiple transcoding circuits, each specialized for a specific protocol (e.g., USB, IEEE 1394), and uses a multi-port memory to facilitate data exchange between protocols without requiring a full PC system.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface device is segmented into separate transcoding circuits, each dedicated to handling a specific communication protocol. This segmentation allows each circuit to be optimized for its specific protocol while keeping the overall system manageable and reducing the complexity burden on the user.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a PC intermediary is used for protocol translation, then protocol compatibility is achieved, but the need for user knowledge and parameter configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface device performs protocol translation automatically without requiring user intervention. The transcoding circuits handle data conversion between protocols autonomously, and the multi-port memory manages data buffering and transfer automatically, eliminating the need for users to configure parameters or understand the underlying complexity.
3Volume of moving object
If portable PCs are used with reduced physical size, then portability is improved, but the ability to integrate additional communication interfaces is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the protocol translation functionality from the PC and places it in a separate, dedicated interface device. This allows the PC to remain small and portable while still achieving protocol compatibility through the external interface device that handles all the complexity of multi-protocol communication.
4Reliability
If complex memory management is used in protocol translation interfaces, then data transfer reliability is improved, but the construction complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a multi-port memory that serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a buffer for data transfer, a synchronization mechanism, and a shared memory space accessible by multiple transcoding circuits. This universal component simplifies the overall architecture while maintaining reliable data transfer between different protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
An interface communicates between two communication buses which use at least two different protocols. The interface includes a volatile memory having at least two access ports and including two transcoding circuits, each transcoding circuit being specific to each of the protocols to be interfaced.