I/O Control Device Logical Address Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for adding input/output devices are costly and lack flexibility in configuration, as they require multiple EEIOs for grouping, which increases costs but prevents low-cost addition of I/O devices while maintaining flexible configurations.

Innovation Solution

An input/output control device connected to an input/output switch, equipped with a memory for storing processor information and conversion tables, identifies device groups and converts logical addresses to local addresses, allowing for efficient routing of input/output instructions across multiple I/O devices connected to a single EEIO via a PCIe switch.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple EEIOs are used for grouping I/O devices, then system configuration flexibility is improved, but device cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem configuration flexibilityVSAvoidnumber of EEIO devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple I/O devices under a single EEIO by introducing a PCIe switch as an intermediary. The PCIe switch receives I/O instructions from the CPU and distributes them to multiple I/O devices connected to it, eliminating the need for separate EEIO devices for each I/O device while maintaining configuration flexibility through software-based grouping

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The PCIe switch acts as an intermediary component between the CPU/EEIO and multiple I/O devices. It receives instructions from the single EEIO and routes them to the appropriate I/O devices, enabling cost-effective multi-device support while preserving the ability to create logical groups for configuration flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If a single EEIO connects multiple I/O devices via PCIe switch, then device cost decreases, but system configuration flexibility is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of EEIO devicesVSAvoidsystem configuration flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the system into logical groups using software rather than physical hardware separation. The I/O control device divides I/O devices into multiple groups and creates separate conversion tables for each group, allowing the single EEIO to maintain configuration flexibility through logical segmentation while physically connecting to multiple I/O devices via one PCIe switch

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the addressing parameters by implementing conversion tables that map logical addresses to physical addresses for each device group. This allows the system to maintain configuration flexibility through software-based address management while using a single EEIO to control multiple I/O devices, resolving the contradiction between hardware simplification and configuration flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If I/O devices are grouped by connecting each to separate EEIO, then grouping flexibility is improved, but system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrouping flexibilityVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the single EEIO universal by enabling it to control multiple I/O devices through the PCIe switch. The I/O control device implements multiple conversion tables that allow the single EEIO to serve multiple device groups, achieving grouping flexibility without requiring multiple EEIO devices, thus reducing system cost while maintaining the ability to create different device groupings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10169279B2Input/output control device, input/output control system, and input/output control method for conversion of logical address of instruction into local address of device specified in instruction

Publication Date: 2019.01.01 NEC CORP

AI summary

An input/output control device is connected to an input/output switch which transfers a received input/output instruction to an input/output device whose local address is specified in the input/output instruction. The input/output control device includes a memory and circuitry. The memory stores specific information about a processor and a conversion table for converting a logical address of the input/output device into the local address, with the specific information and the conversion table each being associated with a device group that includes the processor and the input/output device. The circuitry identifies the device group based on the specific information about the processor of sender which information is obtained. The circuitry converts the logical address included in the input/output instruction into the local address which is obtained from the conversion table for the identified device group, and then sends the input/output instruction to the input/output switch.