High Speed Interconnect Channel Extension via Repeater Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
As computing systems become more complex, the interconnect architecture to couple and communicate between components has increased in complexity to meet bandwidth demands, but existing interconnect technologies like PCI Express and QuickPath Interconnect face challenges in balancing high performance with power efficiency, especially in mobile ecosystems where performance is often sacrificed for power savings.
Innovation Solution
The development of a high-performance interconnect architecture, referred to as UPI (Universal Point-to-Point Interconnect), which employs a layered protocol stack, credit-based flow control, and advanced link training mechanisms to enable efficient communication between processors and I/O devices, supporting multiple devices and configurations while optimizing power management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If signal repeaters and re-driver circuits are implemented to compensate for limits on physical channel length, then the communication distance is extended, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A repeater device is introduced as an intermediary component between the first device and the second device. This repeater includes a receiver that detects signals from the first device and a transmitter that transmits detected signals to the second device, thereby extending the communication distance without requiring complex modifications to the original devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication channel is segmented into multiple sections by introducing the repeater device. The channel is divided into a first channel section between the first device and the repeater, and a second channel section between the repeater and the second device, allowing each section to be optimized independently for shorter, more reliable signal transmission.
2Length of stationary object
If the channel extension is achieved by adding repeater devices, then the communication distance is increased, but the loss of time increases due to additional signal processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The repeater device performs preliminary actions by detecting and processing signals before they would naturally degrade over long distances. The receiver detects incoming signals and the transmitter immediately retransmits them, preventing signal degradation and reducing the need for multiple intermediate processing steps that would increase time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes an agent to facilitate communication in one of two or more modes, where a first of the two or more modes involves communication over links including a first number of lanes and a second of the two or more modes involves communication over links including a second number of lanes, and the first number is greater than the second number. The apparatus further includes a memory including data to indicate which of the two or modes applies to a particular link and a multiplexer to reverse lane numbering on links including either the first number of lanes or the second number of lanes.