Dynamic Data Link Lane Reconfiguration for Traffic Congestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing serial communication protocols, such as USB, suffer from inefficiencies due to uneven data flow between transmit and receive lanes, leading to underutilization of data lanes and potential traffic congestion.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a controller, transmit and receive buffers, and communication ports dynamically adjusts the data link by requesting changes in lane utilization based on throughput ratios and connection status changes, allowing for increased lane usage and efficient data transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dual simplex approach with fixed transmit and receive lanes is used, then full duplex communication is enabled, but data lane utilization efficiency deteriorates due to uneven traffic flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the data link to transition between different operational modes (dual simplex and half duplex) based on real-time traffic conditions. The system dynamically adjusts lane configuration from fixed transmit/receive roles to flexible roles that adapt to traffic demands, resolving the contradiction between maintaining full duplex capability and optimizing lane utilization efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter of the data link by switching between dual simplex and half duplex modes. This parameter change allows the system to optimize lane utilization by converting underutilized transmit lanes to receive lanes when traffic patterns change, thereby improving overall productivity while maintaining communication reliability
2Productivity
If transmit lanes are increased to handle high data flow, then data transmission capacity is improved, but receive lane underutilization worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies discarding and recovering by temporarily converting underutilized transmit lanes to receive lanes when traffic conditions change. This allows the system to recover the wasted capacity of underutilized lanes and reallocate resources to match actual traffic demands, reducing energy waste from lane underutilization while maintaining transmission capacity when needed
3Adaptability or versatility
If the data link operates in dual simplex mode, then bidirectional communication is maintained, but traffic congestion worsens due to uneven flow distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by transitioning from static dual simplex operation to dynamic mode switching. When traffic becomes uneven and causes congestion, the system dynamically switches to half duplex mode, allowing all lanes to function as bidirectional lanes, thereby maintaining bidirectional communication while improving traffic flow efficiency and eliminating congestion
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a transmit buffer, a receive buffer, a communication port, and a controller. The controller is to: communicate with a target device via a data link established via the communication port; determine a throughput ratio between the transmit buffer and the receive buffer; in response to a determination that the throughput ratio is above a threshold, transmit a request to the target device to change an aspect of the data link, where the request includes a payload size indicating an amount of data to be transmitted from the electronic device to the target device; and in response to receiving a grant message associated with the request, increase an amount of transmit lanes within the data link from the electronic device to the target device.