Retimer SKP Coordination for Seamless Multi-Lane Stream Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing signaling link retimers face challenges in seamlessly switching between forwarding and synthesized symbol streams due to lane-to-lane content-boundary misalignment and non-uniform flow-rate compensation, leading to potential bit error rates and impractical signaling distances.
Innovation Solution
A signaling link retimer with path-coordinated flow-rate compensation (PCFC) that employs multi-path circuitry to adjust lane-to-lane content-boundary alignment and inject flow-rate compensation transmissions, ensuring uniformity across lanes, and coordinates SKP injection to maintain compliant SKP intervals during stream transitions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flow-rate compensation transmissions are injected into synthesized symbol stream without coordination, then flow-rate adjustment is achieved, but lane-to-lane content-boundary misalignment occurs and SKP intervals become non-compliant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by detecting and correcting lane-to-lane misalignment individually for each lane. The retimer detects content-boundary misalignment in the received symbol stream and applies lane-specific adjustments to restore uniformity, ensuring each lane maintains proper alignment while allowing for flow-rate compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of flow-rate compensation transmission injection by coordinating SKP injection with detected SKP ordered sets. Instead of injecting SKPs at fixed intervals, the system dynamically adjusts injection timing and quantity based on detected lane conditions, transforming the parameter from static to adaptive to maintain both alignment and compliance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If retimer switches between forwarding and synthesized symbol streams, then adaptability is improved, but seamless switching is compromised due to misalignment and non-uniform compensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the received symbol stream for SKP ordered sets and content-boundary alignment. This feedback information is used to coordinate SKP injection in the synthesized stream and detect misalignment in the forwarded stream, enabling the retimer to maintain proper synchronization during mode transitions and ensure seamless switching between forwarding and synthesized modes.
3Manufacturing precision
If multi-path circuitry is used to adjust lane-to-lane content-boundary alignment, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the alignment correction function into separate detection and correction stages. The retimer first detects content-boundary misalignment in the received stream, then applies corrections to the synthesized stream based on detected SKP positions. This segmented approach achieves precise lane-to-lane alignment while managing complexity through functional separation rather than requiring complex simultaneous multi-path circuitry.
Data Source
AI summary
A signaling link retimer injects flow-rate compensation transmissions into a synthesized symbol stream in coordination with flow-rate compensation transmissions detected within a received symbol stream, enabling the retimer to switch seamlessly between forwarding the received symbol stream and outputting the synthesized symbol stream.