Controller Circuit for Multi-Host Target Device Protocol Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional communication systems restrict a target device to be accessed by only one host device, limiting communication efficiency and flexibility, as multiple hosts cannot independently access the target device without relying on a common protocol.
Innovation Solution
A controller circuit provides configurable communication paths between a target device and multiple host devices, allowing each host to access the target device directly while adhering to a common protocol, and accommodating different communication protocols by using a data format section to ensure compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a target device is designed to accommodate a predetermined communication protocol at hardware level, then communication speed and efficiency are improved, but the target device can only be accessed by hosts using that specific protocol, reducing versatility
Solution Approach 1:
A protocol converter is introduced as an intermediary device between hosts with different communication protocols and the target device. The converter translates communication protocols between hosts and the target device, allowing hosts using different protocols to access the target device without requiring the target device to be redesigned for each protocol, thus maintaining both communication speed and protocol compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The protocol converter is designed to support multiple communication protocols simultaneously, making it capable of interfacing with various types of hosts. This multi-functional design allows a single target device to be accessed by multiple hosts using different protocols, enhancing system versatility while maintaining optimized communication paths
2Device complexity
If multiple hosts share a target device through a single host interface, then device complexity is reduced, but communication efficiency decreases due to sequential access requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into multiple independent host interfaces within the protocol converter, each capable of handling communications with different hosts simultaneously. This segmentation allows multiple hosts to access the target device through separate communication channels, improving communication efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through modular interface design
3Adaptability or versatility
If the target device is modified to support multiple hosts, then access flexibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than modifying the target device to support multiple hosts, a protocol converter is introduced as an external intermediary. This approach maintains the simplicity of target device manufacturing while achieving multi-host access capability through the converter, which handles protocol translation and host interface management separately
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the multi-host support capability from the target device dimension to the interface/converter dimension. By adding protocol conversion functionality at the interface level rather than modifying the target device hardware, the system achieves multi-host access without increasing target device manufacturing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A controller circuit provides communication paths between multiple host devices and a target device. The controller circuit includes a first host idle detection circuit that determines when a first host interface (I/F) is in an idle state, an idle state being when the first host I/F is not communicating with the controller circuit. A switch circuit can selectively enables a controllable communication path between a second host I/F and a target device I/F. A first response circuit can be coupled to the first host I/F and output predetermined responses from the first host I/F in response to communications received on the first host I/F. The first response circuit outputting a predetermined response when at least the controller circuit has enabled the controllable communication path between a second host I/F and the target device I/F and disabled the controllable communication path between the first host I/F and the target device I/F.