Data Access Device for Network Interface Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network communication systems face inefficiencies in data transmission due to the need for large storage buffers and the requirement that data transmission only begins after a packet is fully downloaded, leading to interrupted processes when the network transmission rate exceeds the data download rate.
Innovation Solution
A data access device and method that utilize a write controller, read controller, download timing controller, and FIFO buffer to dynamically manage write and read pointers, allowing data transmission to start before a packet is fully downloaded by calculating the pointer difference and adjusting the write pointer based on predetermined lengths, thereby minimizing storage space and maintaining throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the transmit buffer includes a single page, then the buffer storage space is minimized, but good throughput cannot be realized
Solution Approach 1:
The transmit buffer is divided into multiple pages, each capable of storing complete packet data. This segmentation allows the system to maintain a compact buffer structure while enabling parallel download and transmit operations across different pages, thereby achieving both space efficiency and high throughput
Solution Approach 2:
The system downloads complete packet data to one page before initiating transmission from another page. This preliminary action ensures that transmission data is ready in advance, allowing the transmit operation to start before the download is fully complete, thus improving throughput without requiring excessive buffer space
2Productivity
If the transmit buffer includes multiple pages, then throughput is increased, but the buffer must have a larger storage space
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer is organized into multiple fixed-size pages, each capable of holding a complete packet. This segmentation allows efficient utilization of buffer space by allocating exactly the right amount of memory for each packet, avoiding waste while enabling parallel operations that improve throughput
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically manages multiple pages in the transmit buffer, switching between download and transmit operations on different pages based on operational state. This dynamic management allows the buffer to serve multiple purposes simultaneously, achieving high throughput without requiring a proportionally large increase in total buffer space
3Speed
If transmission is initiated before complete download, then transmission speed is improved, but the storage data may be read empty when network rate exceeds download rate
Solution Approach 1:
The system downloads complete packet data to a dedicated page before initiating transmission from that page. This preliminary action ensures that sufficient data is available in the transmit buffer to sustain the higher network transmission rate, preventing read-empty conditions while maintaining high speed
Solution Approach 2:
By separating download and transmit operations into different pages, the system ensures that transmission always has pre-loaded data available. This segmentation guarantees continuous operation by preventing the transmit buffer from being read empty, even when network rate exceeds download rate
Data Source
AI summary
A data access device for a communication system includes: a write controller controlled by the host and outputting a write pointer; a read controller controlled by the write pointer and outputting a read pointer; a download timing controller comparing the write and read pointers to determine a timing of downloading data from the host, and including a pointer difference calculator and a comparator, the pointer difference calculator calculating a distance between the write and read pointers to obtain a pointer difference, the comparator outputting a download status indication according to the pointer difference and a first predetermined length to provide a basis for changing the write pointer; and a transmit buffer downloading data from the host according to the write pointer and transmitting data to the network interface according to the read pointer. A data access device for a network interface controller and a data access method are also disclosed.