Dynamic Optical Channel Sparing in PCIe Subsystems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industry standard optical buses, such as PCI and PCIe, are not tolerant of lane failures, leading to significant bandwidth reduction and poor system reliability due to the lack of spare lanes or control mechanisms, especially in high-speed systems where optical links experience higher failure rates compared to copper links.
Innovation Solution
Implementing optical channel sparing mechanisms that detect failures and reroute data signals to spare channels, maintaining bandwidth and system reliability by using failure detection logic and channel routing logic to isolate failed channels and utilize spare optical channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If optical channels are used in industry standard optical buses, then data communication speed and bandwidth are improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to higher failure rates compared to copper links
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing failure detection logic that continuously monitors optical channels before failures impact system operation. The detection mechanism proactively identifies channel failures and triggers rerouting operations in advance, preventing complete system failure and maintaining reliability while preserving the high-speed benefits of optical communication
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically switching the system state from using a failed optical channel to using a spare optical channel. The channel routing logic changes the routing parameters in response to detected failures, allowing the system to adapt to degraded conditions while maintaining operational reliability without sacrificing communication speed
2Reliability
If spare optical channels are added to replace failed channels, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional routing control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by implementing automatic failure detection and self-healing capabilities. The failure detection logic autonomously identifies channel failures and triggers the rerouting process without external intervention. The system serves itself by automatically switching to spare channels, improving reliability while minimizing the need for complex external control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies feedback by implementing a closed-loop control system where failure detection logic continuously monitors channel status and provides feedback to the channel routing logic. This feedback mechanism enables automatic rerouting decisions based on real-time channel conditions, improving reliability through adaptive control while keeping the complexity manageable through structured feedback processing
3Quantity of substance
If optical channels are used instead of copper links, then bandwidth is improved, but loss of time increases due to longer propagation delays in optical links
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the optical communication link into multiple segments, including active optical channels and spare optical channels. This segmentation allows the system to isolate and manage individual channel failures, enabling rerouting around failed segments while maintaining overall bandwidth. The segmented architecture helps manage propagation delays by providing alternative paths that can be selected based on actual channel conditions
Data Source
AI summary
Mechanisms, in a data processing system comprising an input/output subsystem implementing an industry standard optical bus, for handling a failure of an optical channel in an optical bus are provided. The mechanisms detect, by failure detection logic of the input/output (I/O) subsystem, failure of an optical channel of the optical bus. The mechanisms send, by a controller of the I/O subsystem, a control signal to channel routing logic of the I/O subsystem to control a routing of data signals between active bus lanes of the data processing system and optical channels of the optical bus in response to detecting the failure of the optical channel. The mechanisms control, by the channel routing logic, routing of data signals between the active bus lanes and the optical channels so as to remove the failed optical channel from further use and use a spare optical channel instead of the failed optical channel.