PCI Express Switch Dynamic Lane Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current PCI Express switch chipsets cannot accommodate both workstation and server configurations on the same motherboard due to differing lane allocation requirements, as they typically support only seventeen physical lanes connected to two connectors, limiting flexibility in allocating lanes to multiple connectors.

Innovation Solution

A dynamic lane allocation system that identifies installed PCI Express devices, assigns lanes based on device types, user preferences, and historic data traffic, allowing for flexible allocation of lanes to multiple connectors, enabling support for various configurations such as two, three, or four connectors with different lane allocations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If seventeen physical lanes are allocated to two PCI Express connectors (one sixteen-lane and one one-lane connector), then workstation configuration with high-performance video graphics adapter is optimized, but server configuration requiring multiple connectors with redundancy cannot be supported

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration flexibilityVSAvoidlane allocation structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic lane allocation where the PCI Express switch can reconfigure lane assignments based on detected device types and system configuration. The switch dynamically adjusts which physical lanes are assigned to which connectors, allowing the same hardware to adapt between workstation and server configurations without physical reconfiguration or additional components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The PCI Express switch is designed to perform multiple functions by serving both workstation and server configurations through the same seventeen-lane infrastructure. By implementing software-configurable lane allocation, the switch becomes a universal component that can optimize for either high-performance single-connector workstation use or multi-connector server redundancy, eliminating the need for configuration-specific hardware variants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If fixed lane allocation is implemented for workstation configuration, then video graphics adapter performance is maximized, but server systems requiring redundant network or storage adapters cannot achieve optimal redundancy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem redundancyVSAvoiddata communication performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the PCI Express switch detects installed device types and their performance requirements, then automatically configures lane allocation accordingly. This feedback loop allows the system to balance redundancy needs against performance requirements by observing actual device presence and adjusting lane assignments to provide both reliability through redundancy and productivity through optimized data communication paths

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If seventeen lanes are permanently assigned to two connectors, then hardware simplicity is maintained, but flexibility to support two, three, or four connectors with different allocations is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnector allocation flexibilityVSAvoidhardware configuration simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/hardware-based lane allocation system with a software/firmware-based configuration system. Instead of requiring different physical hardware configurations for different connector allocations, the system uses software to logically assign lanes to connectors, maintaining hardware simplicity while achieving software-configurable flexibility to support two, three, or four connectors as needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8103993B2Structure for dynamically allocating lanes to a plurality of PCI express connectors

Publication Date: 2012.01.24 LENOVO GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH

AI summary

A design structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium for designing, manufacturing, and/or testing a design for dynamically allocating lanes to a plurality of PCI Express connectors is disclosed that include identifying whether a PCI Express device is installed into each PCI Express connector, and assigning a portion of the lanes to each PCI Express connector having a PCI Express device installed into the PCI Express connector. Dynamically allocating lanes to a plurality of PCI Express connectors may also include identifying a device type for each PCI Express device installed into the plurality of PCI Express connectors, creating allocation rules that specify the allocation of lanes to the plurality of PCI Express connectors, and receiving user allocation preferences that specify the allocation of lanes to the plurality of PCI Express connectors.