PCIe Bridge Event Handling via Device Tree and Action List
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processing systems face challenges in efficiently handling errors and events across PCIe devices due to varying specifications among different controllers, leading to increased development complexity and difficulty in absorbing differences between devices.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus with a PCIe bridge that registers event processes for each device, acquires event notifications, specifies the device location, extracts the relevant process, and sends execution instructions, allowing each PCIe device to perform its specific process without relying on device drivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a device driver is changed for each controller to handle error handling conforming to hardware specifications, then the error handling reliability is improved, but the device complexity and development time are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an input/output control unit as an intermediary between the arithmetic processing unit and processing units. This unit includes a location information storage unit that stores location information of each processing unit, and an execution process information storage unit that stores execution processes for each processing unit. When an event occurs, the input/output control unit acquires the event occurrence notification, specifies the location of the affected processing unit using the location information, extracts the appropriate execution process from the execution process information, and sends it to the arithmetic processing unit. This intermediary structure eliminates the need for separate device drivers for each controller while maintaining reliable error handling specific to each device.
2Ease of operation
If conventional technology blocks instructions and controls devices based on OS commands, then common processes are simplified, but the ability to handle device-specific differences is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing location information and execution process information in the input/output control unit before events occur. The location information storage unit contains location information for each processing unit, and the execution process information storage unit contains device-specific execution processes. When an event occurs, the system quickly retrieves the appropriate pre-prepared execution process based on the processing unit's location, rather than needing to determine the appropriate control method in real-time. This allows the system to maintain simple centralized control while effectively handling device-specific differences through pre-configured execution processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A core, PCIe devices, and a PCIe switch are provided. A PCIe bridge includes a device tree data that indicates the location of each of the PCIe devices with respect to the core via the PCIe switch and an action list in which a process causing one of the PCIe devices to perform when an event occurs in the one of the PCIe devices. If an event occurs in a specific PCIe device, the PCIe bridge acquires an event occurrence notification; specifies the location of the specific PCIe device from the device tree data on the basis of an event occurrence notification; extracts the process causing the specific PCIe device to perform from the action list; and sends an execution instruction of the extracted process to the specific PCIe device on the basis of the specified location.