PHY Tap for Bidirectional Data Analysis Without Link Break
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for analyzing bidirectional data between electronic devices are limited by the need to break data links, making them unsuitable for embedded or inaccessible links, and are costly due to the requirement for physical access and data retransmission.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that tap received and transmitted data at a physical layer interface in one electronic device before processing, allowing bidirectional data analysis without breaking the data link, using an additional PHY to output data to an analyzer for analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an analyzer is inserted between two electronic devices to test and diagnose data links, then signal integrity issues can be addressed, but the data link must be broken which limits testing to physically accessible links only
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a tap device as an intermediary component that couples to the data link without breaking it. The tap device extracts signals from the existing data link and provides them to the analyzer, allowing the original data transmission to continue uninterrupted while enabling analysis of embedded or inaccessible links
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the data link monitoring function from the data transmission function. The tap device separates the signal extraction function from the original data link, allowing the data link to remain intact for transmission while a separate path provides signals to the analyzer
2Measurement precision
If data links are broken to insert an analyzer for testing, then signal integrity can be analyzed, but the testing approach becomes infeasible for embedded data links in inner layers of PCB
Solution Approach 1:
The tap device serves as an intermediary that accesses embedded data links without requiring physical breaking or disassembly. It couples to the existing link structure and extracts signals for analysis, making embedded links in inner PCB layers accessible for testing
Solution Approach 2:
The tap device creates a copy of the signal from the data link rather than requiring direct access to the signal path. This copying mechanism allows analysis of signals from inaccessible locations without disrupting the original signal flow
3Loss of information
If the analyzer transmits back the received data for bidirectional analysis, then complete data exchange can be analyzed, but this becomes cumbersome and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the necessary transmitted data signal from the data link and provides it directly to the analyzer. This eliminates the need for the analyzer to retransmit data back, reducing complexity while maintaining complete bidirectional analysis capability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the analyzer transmitting data back to the device under test, the system inverts the approach by extracting the transmitted data signal directly from the link and providing it to the analyzer. This reversal simplifies the system architecture
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for analyzing bidirectional data exchanged between two electronic devices is disclosed. In one embodiment, received and transmitted data at a first physical layer interface (PHY) is tapped by a second PHY in a first electronic device substantially before the received data is processed in the first electronic device and substantially before the transmitted data is processed by a second electronic device. Further, the tapped received and transmitted data is output to an analyzer for analyzing the received and transmitted data by the second PHY in the first electronic device.