Physical Layer Chip Capacity Negotiation via Intermediary Controller
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In Long Reach Ethernet equipment, communication capacity negotiation between physical layer chips is complex, leading to inconsistent communication capacities between LRE PHY chips and normal PHY chips, resulting in packet loss, as they negotiate individually without mutual communication, limiting flexibility and requiring manual configuration.
Innovation Solution
A method where the first physical layer chip negotiates communication capacity with an opposite end and reports the confirmed capacity to the second physical layer chip, which then adopts this capacity for negotiation using a fixed negotiation mode, ensuring both chips have the same communication capacity, with optional self-negotiation or fixed negotiation modes, and utilizing hardware pins or MII interface for notification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If physical layer chips negotiate communication capacity individually, then each chip can independently optimize its communication parameters, but the communication capacities become inconsistent between chips, leading to packet loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary component that coordinates the negotiation process between multiple physical layer chips. The controller receives negotiation results from one chip and distributes consistent capacity parameters to other chips, ensuring all chips operate at the same communication capacity while allowing individual negotiation capability to be maintained.
2Reliability
If manual configuration is used to ensure consistent communication capacities, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and operation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the system automatically negotiates and configures communication capacities without manual intervention. The controller automatically distributes negotiation results to all physical layer chips, enabling the system to self-configure consistent parameters while reducing operational complexity and eliminating the need for manual configuration.
3Loss of time
If fixed negotiation mode is used, then negotiation speed is improved, but adaptability to different communication scenarios is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having physical layer chips perform capability advertisement and negotiation in advance before actual data transmission begins. The controller collects negotiation results beforehand and distributes them to all chips, so that when transmission starts, all chips are already configured with consistent parameters, achieving fast startup without sacrificing adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for communication capacity negotiation for physical layer chips performed by a network device provided with a first physical layer chip and a second physical layer chip includes, with the first physical layer chip, negotiating communication capacity with an opposite end, and reporting the communication capacity confirmed by negotiation to the second physical layer chip; and with the second physical layer chip, adopting the communication capacity acquired from the first physical layer chip to negotiate communication capacity with another opposite end by a fixed negotiation mode. A system for communication capacity negotiation of physical layer chips includes a first physical layer chip; and a second physical layer chip. The first physical layer chip negotiates a communication capacity with an opposite end, and reports the communication capacity confirmed by negotiation to the second physical layer chip; and the second physical layer chip adopts the communication capacity acquired from the first physical layer chip to negotiate communication capacity with another opposite end by a fixed negotiation mode.