I3C Bus Group Addressing for Efficient Multi-Device Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current I3C communication standards require repeated write transfers to multiple devices connected to a bus interface, leading to inefficiencies and potential communication errors when setting a single arbitrary device as the destination, necessitating a method to efficiently communicate with multiple devices while avoiding errors.
Innovation Solution
A communication device and method that utilize a transmission and reception control unit and processing execution unit to recognize devices with group-belonging capabilities, assigning a group address to multiple devices, allowing for concurrent communication and error prevention by designating a group address for a single group of devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If repeated write transfers are performed to multiple devices individually, then communication reliability is maintained, but communication efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual write transfers into a single group address-based write transfer. By assigning a common group address to multiple slave devices, the master device can transmit data to all group members simultaneously through one transfer operation, thereby improving communication efficiency while maintaining reliability through the standardized I3C group communication protocol
2Productivity
If a single arbitrary device is set as destination, then communication simplicity is improved, but communication efficiency deteriorates when multiple devices need the same data
Solution Approach 1:
The group address serves as a universal identifier that can represent multiple slave devices simultaneously. Instead of managing individual addresses for each device, the group address provides a multi-functional addressing mechanism that works for all devices within the group, simplifying address management while enabling efficient bulk communication
3Productivity
If group address communication is implemented, then communication efficiency is improved, but risk of communication errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through acknowledgment signals from slave devices to the master device. When the master transmits data to a group address, receiving slave devices send acknowledgment signals to confirm successful reception. This feedback loop enables error detection and ensures communication reliability while maintaining the efficiency benefits of group address-based communication
Data Source
AI summary
To perform communication more definitely and efficiently.In order to perform communication in which a group address is used setting a plurality of arbitrary slaves to a single group and setting the group to a destination, a slave having a group-belonging capability capable of belonging to the group and performing communication is recognized. Then, in a state in which a slave having the group-belonging capability and a slave having no group-belonging capability mixedly join in a bus, the group address is assigned to the slave recognized to have the group-belonging capability. The present technology is, for example, applicable to a bus IF.