Converged Interconnect Fabric Emulation for USB Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interconnect technologies, such as INTEL® Thunderbolt™, face adoption challenges due to lack of acceptance by manufacturers and software developers relying on USB standards, leading to delayed consumer access to advanced data communication capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A converged interconnect fabric is enabled by emulating a data network interface that is interoperable with the fabric, using optical and electrical interconnects, and a software implementation of a networking standard controlling hardware components, including an interconnect controller and bus protocol device, to provide address resolution and route application data within the fabric.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a new converged interconnect fabric technology is introduced, then data communication performance is improved, but device complexity and adoption difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (software driver, protocol stack, or gateway) that translates between the new converged interconnect fabric protocol and existing USB/PCIe protocols. This mediator enables devices using different interfaces to communicate seamlessly, reducing the complexity burden on individual devices while maintaining high performance benefits of the converged fabric.
Solution Approach 2:
The converged interconnect fabric is designed to support multiple protocols (USB, PCIe, DisplayPort, etc.) simultaneously, making it a universal interface that can connect diverse devices. This multi-functionality allows a single fabric to replace multiple dedicated interfaces, improving communication performance while actually simplifying the overall system architecture despite the complexity of supporting multiple protocols.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a converged interconnect fabric with multiple protocols is used, then versatility is improved, but ease of operation and adoption decrease
Solution Approach 1:
Software intermediaries such as protocol translators, virtual drivers, or gateway services abstract the complexity of multiple protocols from end users and applications. These mediators present a simplified, consistent interface while handling the protocol转换 in the background, maintaining versatility without compromising ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual or software-based representations of physical interfaces and protocols. Instead of requiring physical adapters for each protocol type, the system uses software copies or emulations that replicate protocol behavior, making the system more versatile while easier to operate through software configuration rather than hardware complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing USB and networking standards are maintained, then ease of manufacture and compatibility are improved, but data communication bandwidth and performance are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple communication protocols (USB, PCIe, DisplayPort, Ethernet) into a single converged interconnect fabric. This consolidation allows the system to maintain compatibility with existing USB standards through software emulation while simultaneously providing the high bandwidth capabilities of optical/electrical converged connections, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and communication performance.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary protocol translation layer enables legacy USB devices to communicate with the high-speed converged fabric without requiring hardware changes. The software mediator translates between USB protocols and the converged fabric protocol, allowing existing manufactured devices to access the enhanced bandwidth while maintaining ease of manufacture and compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A subject disclosure is directed towards emulating a data network interface for operating an interconnect controller in accordance with a networking standard. The emulated data network interface provides address resolution data associated with a destination, within a converged interconnect fabric, for application data. The address resolution data identifies a communication path that is compatible with the interconnect controller. The application data conforms to the networking standard. The emulated data network interface instructs the interconnect controller to route the application data to the destination via the compatible communication path.