Ethernet Encoder Aggregating Symbols Using Control Code Pointers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional 10GBASE-R Ethernet network devices are unable to effectively encode data and control codes received in arbitrary orders, limiting their ability to aggregate multiple independent communication channels, which is essential for reducing pin counts and enabling efficient data transmission in high-speed links.
Innovation Solution
A data processing system with an encoder that generates a header and encodes symbols to indicate the presence of control codes, using pointers with more bits than the control codes themselves, allowing for flexible placement and aggregation of data and control codes within encoded blocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional 10GBASE-R encoding is used, then encoding overhead is kept low, but the ability to encode data and control codes in arbitrary order is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The encoding structure is segmented into distinct components: a header indicating control code presence, data symbols, and control codes. This segmentation allows flexible arrangement of elements while maintaining efficient encoding. The header separates control information from data, enabling independent handling of each component.
Solution Approach 2:
A pointer mechanism is introduced as an intermediary element that references the position of control codes within the encoded block. This pointer acts as a mediator between the variable-position control codes and the fixed-structure encoder, enabling arbitrary ordering without increasing overall encoding overhead.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple independent communication channels are aggregated, then pin count is reduced, but encoding complexity increases due to arbitrary symbol ordering
Solution Approach 1:
The encoder is designed with universal functionality to handle symbols from multiple independent communication channels. The same encoding structure and pointer mechanism work regardless of the number of input channels, allowing the system to aggregate any number of channels without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The header is generated in advance to indicate the presence and position of control codes before the actual encoding process. This preliminary action prepares the encoding structure to accommodate arbitrary symbol ordering from multiple channels, simplifying the subsequent encoding operations.
3Device complexity
If control codes are placed in predetermined positions, then encoding is simplified, but flexibility in placing control codes among data symbols is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The position of control codes within the encoded block becomes dynamic rather than fixed. The pointer mechanism allows control codes to be placed at any position among data symbols, and the header dynamically indicates their locations. This dynamic arrangement maintains encoding simplicity while maximizing placement flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A data processing system including an interface and an encoder. The interface is configured to receive first symbols from one or more ports. The interface is configured to aggregate a predetermined number of the first symbols to provide second symbols. The encoder is configured to (i) generate a header, and (ii) encode the second symbols to generate third symbols, where the header indicates whether the third symbols include a set of control codes. Responsive to the third symbols including the set of control codes, the encoder is configured to generate a pointer for the set of control codes, where the pointer can assume more values than are in the set of control codes.