Connector Between Physical and Link Layers for Non-Disruptive Peripheral Disconnection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Plug and Play systems require reconfiguration of the communication bus when a peripheral device is disconnected, leading to disruptions and inefficiencies, especially in critical applications like spacecraft where communication disruptions can be catastrophic.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves physically disconnecting a peripheral from the communication bus by placing the physical connector between the physical and link layers of the interface protocol, disabling the link layer before disconnection while keeping the physical layer enabled, allowing for non-disruptive disconnection without reconfiguring the bus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a peripheral device is disconnected from the communication bus in existing PnP systems, then the disconnected peripheral is removed from the system, but the entire communication bus must be reconfigured causing disruption to all devices
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into two separate connectors: a first connector at the physical layer and a second connector at the link layer. This segmentation allows independent disconnection of the link layer while maintaining the physical layer connection, enabling peripheral removal without bus reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The first physical layer connector acts as an intermediary that remains connected to the communication bus while the second link layer connector is disconnected. This intermediary connection maintains bus integrity and allows other devices to continue communicating without disruption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the communication bus is reconfigured when a peripheral is disconnected, then the peripheral layout is updated, but all peripherals must be recognized and reloaded causing time loss
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the physical and link layer connectors, the system allows link layer disconnection without triggering physical layer reconfiguration. This eliminates the time-consuming process of recognizing and reloading all peripherals while maintaining adaptability through the disconnected link layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The link layer disconnection is performed before any reconfiguration can occur, preventing the cascade effect that would trigger full bus reconfiguration. This preliminary action at the link layer isolates the disconnection event from propagating to the physical layer.
3Ease of operation
If a peripheral is disconnected in a daisy-chained configuration, then the peripheral is removed from the chain, but all downstream peripherals lose communication with the host
Solution Approach 1:
The two-connector design separates physical connectivity from logical connectivity. The first connector maintains the physical signal path through the disconnected peripheral's location in the daisy chain, while the second connector's disconnection only affects the specific peripheral's logical connection to the host.
Solution Approach 2:
The first physical layer connector serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap created by the second link layer connector's disconnection. This intermediary maintains the physical signal transmission path for downstream peripherals while the disconnected peripheral's link layer is isolated.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a communication bus having a physical layer for interacting with a peripheral device. The physical layer is configured to be adjacent to a link layer on the peripheral device. The electronic device further includes a connector at a junction of the physical layer and the link layer. Communication through the communication bus is maintained through the physical layer when the link layer of the peripheral device is disconnected from the physical layer at the connector.