Expanded Function Datagram for SPMI Master Addressing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing System Power Management Interface (SPMI) bus protocol is limited in addressing more than four masters and handling large volumes of data, leading to increased latency and performance issues in modern computing devices with multi-core processors.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of expanded function datagrams that allow for addressing more than four masters, enabling concurrent broadcasting to multiple masters and modifying the address and payload format to handle larger data volumes, thereby enhancing the SPMI system's performance by reducing latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the standard SPMI bus protocol is used, then the system maintains compatibility with existing devices, but the system cannot address more than four masters and experiences increased latency
Solution Approach 1:
The address field is segmented into a first portion (standard address bits) and a second portion (extension bits). The extension bits are used to indicate whether standard addressing or expanded addressing should be used, allowing the system to segment the addressing space to accommodate more than four masters while maintaining backward compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds another dimension to the address field by incorporating extension bits that expand the addressing capability. This dimensional expansion allows the system to address more than four masters by utilizing additional bit positions in the address field, effectively increasing the addressable space from 4 to 8 or more masters.
2Quantity of substance
If the standard SPMI datagram format is used, then the protocol remains simple and compatible, but the system cannot handle large volumes of data efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The datagram format is made dynamic by incorporating an extension indicator that allows the system to switch between standard and expanded formats. When large data volumes need to be transmitted, the extension indicator signals the use of an expanded payload format, allowing the datagram structure to adapt its complexity based on the communication requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the datagram format by introducing extension bits that modify the interpretation of the address and payload fields. When these extension bits are set, the system interprets the datagram with expanded parameters, allowing larger data volumes to be transmitted while maintaining the ability to use the standard format when simplicity is sufficient.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standard addressing is used, then the protocol remains simple, but the system cannot support concurrent broadcasting to multiple masters
Solution Approach 1:
The extended address field serves multiple functions: it can address individual masters, address groups of masters, and enable broadcast to all masters. This multi-functionality is achieved by using the extension bits to indicate different addressing modes, allowing a single protocol mechanism to handle diverse communication scenarios without requiring separate protocols for each case.
Data Source
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AI summary
Expanded function datagrams in a system power management interface (SPMI) system allow a slave to use an expanded function datagram to address a larger number of masters (e.g., more than four) associated with the SPMI system. Furthermore, addressing may allow for a datagram to be broadcast to multiple masters concurrently. Still further, by signaling that the master addressing is other than the standard SPMI format, the nature of the address and payload of a datagram may be varied to handle larger volumes of data than the SPMI standard normally allows.