Network Adapter Option-ROM Management Through a Single Bus Interface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-CPU devices, managing network adapters with Option-ROM functionality can lead to management complications due to direct communication between the network adapter and multiple CPUs, resulting in redundant command sets that confuse users and increase the risk of errors.
Innovation Solution
The network adapter exposes Option-ROM functionality over only a single selected bus interface, presenting a unified set of commands for managing all bus interfaces, thereby eliminating redundancy and simplifying user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the network adapter exposes Option-ROM functionality over multiple bus interfaces in multi-CPU devices, then each CPU can directly access the network adapter, but redundant command sets are generated that confuse users and increase management complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a single designated bus interface as an intermediary for managing Option-ROM functionality. This mediator interface consolidates all management commands and configuration operations, preventing direct access from multiple CPUs while maintaining the ability to serve multiple processors through a unified management path.
Solution Approach 2:
The single designated bus interface is designed to handle multiple functions: it serves as the primary management interface for Option-ROM, coordinates access from multiple CPUs, and maintains compatibility with both single-CPU and multi-CPU configurations. This universal interface eliminates the need for separate management paths for each CPU.
2Productivity
If the network adapter allows direct communication with multiple CPUs via multiple bus interfaces, then processing capability is improved, but redundant command sets increase the risk of errors and user confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The designated single bus interface acts as a mediator that serializes and coordinates access from multiple CPUs. By routing all management operations through this single interface, the system prevents command conflicts and errors that would arise from parallel direct access, while still allowing multiple CPUs to utilize the network adapter's processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the management functions from the data processing functions. Multiple CPUs can simultaneously access the network adapter for high-speed data processing through multiple bus interfaces, but management and configuration operations are segmented to occur only through a single designated interface, eliminating command redundancy and error risks.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple bus interfaces are used for Option-ROM management, then each interface can be independently configured, but a non-redundant set of commands cannot be presented to users
Solution Approach 1:
The single designated bus interface is designed as a universal management interface that can configure and control all bus interfaces of the network adapter. This unified approach presents a non-redundant set of commands to users while maintaining the ability to independently configure each bus interface through centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the management functions of multiple bus interfaces into a single unified interface. Instead of providing separate configuration capabilities for each bus interface, the system combines all management operations into one interface, eliminating redundancy and simplifying user interaction while preserving the underlying interface diversity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A network adapter (28) includes one or more network ports (32), multiple bus interfaces (48) and a processor (36). The network ports are configured to communicate with a communication network (34). The bus interfaces are configured to communicate with multiple respective CPUs (24) of a multi-CPU device (28). The processor is included in the network adapter and is configured to support an Option-ROM functionality, in which the network adapter holds Option-ROM program instructions that are loadable and executable by the multi-CPU device during a boot process, to expose the support of the Option-ROM functionality to the multi-CPU device over only a single bus interface, selected from among the multiple bus interfaces, and, by loading the Option-ROM program instructions to the multi-CPU device, to cause the multi-CPU device to present to a user only a single, non-redundant set of commands for managing all the multiple bus interfaces of the network adapter via the single bus interface.