PCIe Switching Network Host Sharing via Managing Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing PCIe system is limited to supporting only a maximum of eight hosts due to the port limitation of a single chip, preventing the effective sharing of a PCIe switching network among multiple hosts.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a PCIe switch with multiple downstream ports, managed by a processing unit, to establish routing paths between switch terminal devices, allowing host processing units to construct and route PCIe data packets through the switch, enabling multiple hosts to connect to the network without port limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a standard PCIe switch with multiple downstream ports is used, then the number of supported hosts increases, but the device complexity increases due to the need for managing units and routing path establishment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a managing unit as an intermediary component that establishes routing paths between the PCIe switch and multiple hosts. This managing unit acts as a mediator that coordinates communication and data packet routing, allowing the system to support more hosts than the standard PCIe switch port limit while maintaining organized control over the increased complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the PCIe switch into multiple virtual channels or routing paths, each managed independently by the managing unit. This segmentation allows multiple hosts to share the PCIe switch resources through distinct logical paths, effectively increasing the number of supported hosts beyond the physical port limitation
2Adaptability or versatility
If routing paths are established between switch terminal devices, then multiple hosts can share the PCIe network, but the data transmission complexity increases due to path rule management
Solution Approach 1:
The managing unit establishes routing paths and path rules in advance before data transmission begins. By pre-configuring the routing information and determining optimal paths between switch terminal devices and hosts, the system reduces the complexity of real-time routing decisions while enabling multiple hosts to share the PCIe network efficiently
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and a method for transmitting data based on Peripheral Component Interconnect Express 9PCIe). The system includes: a PCIe switching network, multiple switch terminal devices, a managing unit, multiple host processing units, multiple terminal processing units, multiple hosts, and multiple terminal devices. After a PCIe data packet sent by a host is processed by a host processing unit, a new PCIe data packet that can be transmitted in a PCIe switch is constructed, and is transferred, by using a switch terminal device and a terminal processing unit, to a terminal device. The embodiments can break through a limitation about a single root node of PCIe and implement sharing of a PCIe switching network by multiple hosts.