Reliable Frame Transfer Protocol for Ethernet Device Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication techniques between devices in data centers, such as PCIe, face limitations in speed and cost, and often require complex error correction mechanisms that introduce latency.

Innovation Solution

A reliable frame transfer protocol (RFT) that uses Ethernet standards for communication, allowing for efficient, in-order delivery of frames with reduced latency by employing acknowledgment and credit flow control, and enabling coexistence with conventional Ethernet frames over the same physical connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If PCIe is used for device-to-device communications, then high-speed communication is achieved, but the cost and hardware availability become limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication speedVSAvoidhardware cost and availability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by enabling Ethernet infrastructure to serve dual purposes: traditional network communication and high-speed device-to-device communication. By making Ethernet ports and cables multi-functional, the system achieves PCIe-like performance without requiring specialized hardware, thus resolving the contradiction between speed and hardware cost/availability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent copies the functionality of PCIe communication over Ethernet infrastructure. Instead of requiring proprietary PCIe hardware for each device pair, the system replicates high-speed communication capabilities using widely available Ethernet components, thereby reducing hardware costs while maintaining high communication speeds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If traditional error correction mechanisms are used, then communication reliability is improved, but latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the error correction functionality from traditional Ethernet protocols and implements a simplified version tailored for point-to-point communication. By removing unnecessary error correction overhead and buffering mechanisms that cause latency in standard Ethernet, the system maintains reliability through selective acknowledgment protocols while significantly reducing communication latency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the error correction parameters by implementing a lightweight acknowledgment-based reliability mechanism instead of heavy forward error correction. This parameter change allows the system to achieve sufficient reliability for device-to-device communication without the latency penalty of traditional Ethernet error correction and retransmission protocols

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12113879B2Reliable communications using a point to point protocol

Publication Date: 2024.10.08 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

This disclosure describes techniques for performing communications between devices using various aspects of Ethernet standards. As further described herein, a protocol is disclosed that may be used for communications between devices, where the communications take place over a physical connection complying with Ethernet standards. Such a protocol may enable reliable and in-order delivery of frames between devices, while following Ethernet physical layer rules, Ethernet symbol encoding, Ethernet lane alignment, and/or Ethernet frame formats.