I3C Bus Hot Join Deadlock Prevention via Error Avoidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the context of I3C communication, a deadlock can occur when a newly connected slave is unable to participate in the bus interface, leading to communication errors and failure in hot join operations.

Innovation Solution

A communication system and method that includes a transmitting and receiving part, along with an error avoidance mechanism to prevent errors when a new device is connected, by monitoring bus idling conditions and adjusting communication speeds to ensure proper hot join requests are executed without deadlocks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If hot join is executed in I3C to enable dynamic slave connection, then adaptability is improved, but deadlock may occur preventing newly connected slaves from participating in the bus interface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehot join capabilityVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the main master transmit a stop condition signal before the newly connected slave attempts to join the bus. This preparatory action clears the bus state and prevents deadlock by ensuring the bus is in a known idle state before the slave participates in communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by having the main master monitor and detect the hot join request from the newly connected slave, then respond with appropriate control signals. This feedback mechanism ensures the bus state is properly managed and prevents deadlock by coordinating the join process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If communication speed is increased in I3C to improve productivity, then productivity is improved, but error occurrence may increase during hot join operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication speedVSAvoiderror rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by allowing the communication system to operate at high speed during normal operation but dynamically adjusting the timing and state transitions during hot join operations. The main master controls the bus state transitions to ensure proper synchronization even at high communication speeds, preventing errors during slave connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3584711B1Communication device, communication method, program, and communication system
Publication Date: 2021.11.24 SONY SEMICON SOLUTIONS CORP
  • EP3584711B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3584711B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3584711B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This disclosure relates to a communicating apparatus, a communication method, a program, and a communication system that each enable execution of more reliable communication. A communicating apparatus includes a transmitting and receiving part that executes transmission and reception of signals with at least one or more other communicating apparatuses through a data signal line and a clock signal line, and an error avoiding part that, in a state where a communication system configured to be able to execute communication through a bus already operates, executes a process of avoiding occurrence of any error occurring when a communicating apparatus is additionally connected to the communication system. This technique is applicable to, for example, a bus IF.