Data Transmission Ports with Dynamic Retry Buffer Grouping

Solution Overview

Problem

Re-configurable data transmission ports face inefficiencies in data integrity support due to the need for enlarged retry buffers when switching between 'split' and 'merge' configurations, leading to hardware waste and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A data-integrity transaction controlling unit that detects configuration status and configures retry buffers into a buffer group, allowing data to be backed up and resent as needed without requiring an enlarged retry buffer, thereby optimizing storage space and reducing hardware costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the retry buffer volume is enlarged to comply with merged multi-bandwidth requirements, then data transmission bandwidth is improved, but hardware cost increases and the enlarged buffer becomes useless when returning to split configuration status

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission bandwidthVSAvoidhardware waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The retry buffer volume is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The buffer configuration unit changes the retry buffer volume based on the current configuration status (split or merge), allowing the buffer to adapt its size to actual needs and avoid hardware waste when switching between different bandwidth requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of retry buffer volume dynamically. When switching from split to merge configuration, the buffer volume is enlarged to handle increased bandwidth. When returning to split configuration, the buffer volume is reduced back to the original size, thereby avoiding hardware waste while maintaining high bandwidth capability when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the retry buffer volume is increased to avoid throttling, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but hardware cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidhardware cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The retry buffer volume is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The buffer configuration unit changes the retry buffer volume based on the current configuration status (split or merge), allowing the buffer to adapt its size to actual needs and avoid hardware waste when switching between different bandwidth requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of retry buffer volume dynamically. When switching from split to merge configuration, the buffer volume is enlarged to handle increased bandwidth. When returning to split configuration, the buffer volume is reduced back to the original size, thereby avoiding hardware waste while maintaining high bandwidth capability when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If a single protocol circuit controls multiple PHY and transmission lines in merge status, then bandwidth is improved, but the protocol circuits and retry buffers of other ports become disused

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemerged bandwidthVSAvoidprotocol circuit utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The retry buffers of other ports are not abandoned but repurposed to serve as part of the buffer group for the merged port. This multi-functional approach allows the same hardware resources to serve different purposes depending on configuration status, improving utilization while supporting high bandwidth requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the retry buffers of multiple ports into a single buffer group that serves the merged port. Instead of having separate, underutilized buffers, the buffers are combined and managed collectively, improving both resource utilization and the ability to handle high bandwidth demands

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7509531B2Data transmission ports with data-integrity transaction controlling unit and method for performing the same

Publication Date: 2009.03.24 SILICON INTEGRATED SYSTEMS CORP

AI summary

The present invention discloses re-configurable data transmission ports with data-integrity transaction controlling unit in a computerized computer and the method for performing the same. The controlling unit further includes a port-configuration detecting mechanism and a buffer-configuration subunit. The port-configuration detecting mechanism can inspect configuration status of all of the first ports on variance of data transmission bandwidths, e.g. “merge” or “spilt” status. The buffer-configuration subunit upon different configuration status of each first port configures each retry buffer. When a specific first port is configured on “merge” status, the buffer-configuration subunit can follows up to configure the retry buffer owned by the specific first port and the retry buffers owned but disused by the other first ports to constitute a buffer group with merging of storing spaces of said configured retry buffers. The controlling unit sequentially backs up a data on the buffer group upon the data is transmitted from the specific first port to a corresponding second port.If the specific first port receives a non-acknowledge (NAK) message or nothing from the corresponding second port within a specific time, the data is retransmitted from the buffer group to the corresponding second port. If the specific first port exactly receives an acknowledge (ACK) message from the corresponding second port, the data is cleaned from the buffer group.