Packet-to-Serial Data Mapping for Visual Error Confirmation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
It is difficult for users to confirm the relationship between an edited packet and the corresponding serial data output in fast serial interfaces like PCI Express, making it challenging to identify and correct errors in the serial pattern.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced that involves editing a packet, displaying its structure, converting it into serial data, and visually highlighting corresponding portions of the packet structure and serial data bar, allowing users to easily identify errors and confirm relationships between the edited packet and the derived serial data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If packet editing is performed for fast serial interfaces, then data communication speed is improved, but it becomes difficult to confirm the relationship between edited packets and serial data outputs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color coding to different packet fields in the display interface. Each field (such as TLP, DLLP, ordered sets, encoding, scrambling, byte stripping, K characters, start/end frames) is assigned a distinct color or visual marker. This allows users to visually trace the transformation of each packet component through the serialization process, making it easy to confirm relationships between edited packets and serial data outputs while maintaining fast serial interface performance.
2Manufacturing precision
If detailed packet structure editing is enabled, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packet structure display into distinct, color-coded fields representing different layers (transaction layer, data link layer, physical layer) and processing stages (encoding, scrambling, byte stripping). Each segment can be independently edited and traced. This segmentation provides detailed editing precision while managing complexity through organized, modular display of packet components.
Data Source
AI summary
A user may easily confirm a relationship between an edited packet and the output serial data derived from the edited packet. The user may edit a packet with known method (step 104) to display a packet structure of the edited packet (step 106). A signal generator converts the packet to serial data through striping, scramble and 8b/10b conversion to display a serial data bar corresponding to the serial data derived from the packet (step 116). The user may designate a range on the serial data bar to distinctively display portions of the packet structure corresponding to the designated range (step 120).