Multi-Protocol I/O Interconnect Flow Control via Switching Fabric
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional computer platforms are limited by protocol-specific I/O connections, which restrict the types of peripheral devices that can be attached and require multiple ports for different protocols, leading to inflexibility and reduced compatibility.
Innovation Solution
A multi-protocol tunneling I/O interconnect with a switching fabric that uses cross-bar switches to carry multiple I/O protocols simultaneously over a single physical connector, enabling communication with various devices through a non-protocol-specific port, and a connection manager to manage protocol translation and routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If protocol-specific connection interfaces are used for each peripheral device type, then reliable communication with specific device types is achieved, but the number of ports increases and compatibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal I/O interconnect that can handle multiple protocols (PCIe, USB, DisplayPort, HDMI, SATA, SAS) through a single physical connector. The interconnect includes protocol-specific host controllers and a switching fabric that can route different protocol types through the same physical interface, eliminating the need for separate protocol-specific ports while maintaining reliable communication for each protocol type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple protocol-specific ports are provided, then support for various peripheral devices is achieved, but device complexity and port quantity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple protocol-specific connection interfaces into a single physical connector. The I/O interconnect integrates multiple host controllers (PCIe, USB, DisplayPort, HDMI, SATA, SAS) and uses a switching fabric to combine their communication paths through one shared physical interface, reducing the number of ports from multiple protocol-specific connectors to a single multi-protocol connector.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a single physical connector carries multiple protocols, then port quantity is reduced and compatibility improves, but flow control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the flow control mechanism into protocol-specific flow control units, each dedicated to a specific protocol type. The switching fabric includes multiple flow control units that independently manage flow control for each protocol (PCIe, USB, DisplayPort, HDMI, SATA, SAS) separately. This segmentation allows each protocol to maintain its own flow control rules and mechanisms while sharing the physical connector, preventing flow control complexity from becoming unmanageable.
4Adaptability or versatility
If bandwidth is shared across multiple protocols, then port quantity decreases, but transmission speed may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation through the switching fabric, which can dynamically assign bandwidth resources to different protocols based on current communication needs. The flow control units monitor and regulate data flow for each protocol, ensuring that bandwidth is allocated dynamically rather than statically shared, thereby maintaining high transmission speeds for active protocols while supporting multiple protocols through the same physical interface.
Data Source
AI summary
Described are embodiments of methods, apparatuses, and systems for multi-protocol tunneling across a multi-protocol I/O interconnect of computer apparatus. A method for managing flow across the multi-protocol I/O interconnect may include providing, by a first port of a switching fabric of a multi-protocol interconnect to a second port of the switching fabric, a first credit grant packet and a second credit grant packet as indications of unoccupied space of a buffer associated with a path between the first port and a second port, and simultaneously routing a first data packet of a first protocol and a second data packet of a second protocol, different from the first protocol, on the path from the second port to the first port based at least in part on receipt by the second port of the first and second credit grant packets. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.