Retimer Telemetry Reporting via C-SKPs for Complete Link Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication protocols in data centers face challenges in accurately gathering and reporting link telemetry across multiple portions of a communication link, especially when retimers are present, as the controlling entity lacks direct access to all link portions, leading to incomplete or inaccurate telemetry data.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a retimer with telemetry gathering circuits that can collect both physical and logical-level telemetry data, and utilize control skip-ordered sets (C-SKPs) to transmit this data via sideband or in-band channels, enabling comprehensive link monitoring and reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If retimers are added to extend link reach and improve signal quality, then link reliability is improved, but telemetry data completeness deteriorates because the controlling entity lacks direct access to all link portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces retimers as intermediary devices that actively participate in telemetry data collection. These retimers gather telemetry information from their local link portions and forward it to the controlling entity, acting as mediators that bridge the information gap created by their presence in the link path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where retimers continuously monitor and report telemetry data about their local link portions back to the controlling entity. This feedback loop enables the controlling entity to maintain comprehensive visibility of the entire link including portions behind retimers, thus preventing information loss despite the added complexity.
2Device complexity
If traditional protocols are used without retimer telemetry capabilities, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to accurately gather telemetry across multiple link portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances the universality of retimer devices by equipping them with dual functionality: traditional signal retiming operations and telemetry data collection. This multi-functionality allows a single device to serve both purposes without requiring separate measurement instruments, thereby maintaining relatively low device complexity while improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the telemetry collection function with the existing retimer infrastructure. Instead of adding separate measurement devices that would increase complexity, the telemetry gathering capability is integrated into the retimer itself, combining monitoring and signal conditioning functions in one component.
3Duration of action of moving object
If retimers are deployed to ensure signal quality over extended links, then link duration is extended, but the ability to detect and measure link conditions deteriorates due to lack of direct access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service capabilities in retimers where they autonomously monitor their own operational status and link conditions. The retimers perform self-diagnostics and automatically report their health status, temperature, and link quality metrics without requiring external probing, thus making link condition detection easier despite extended link duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The retimers serve as intermediary monitoring points that provide direct measurement capability for their local link portions. By positioning these intelligent intermediaries at strategic points along the extended link, the system maintains easy detectability and measurement of link conditions throughout the entire extended path.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are described for receiving, at an upstream-facing pseudo-port of a retimer, a telemetry request command via one or more control skip-ordered sets (C-SKPs), the telemetry request command including one of a plurality of telemetry IDs respectively identifying types of telemetry data, the types of telemetry data selected from the group consisting of: retimer training and status state machine (RTSSM) state information and temperature data, retrieving telemetry data from the retimer associated with the telemetry ID in the telemetry request command, receiving, at a downstream-facing pseudo-port of the retimer, C-SKPs, and responsively generating modified C-SKPs by rewriting fields of the received C-SKPs with the retrieved telemetry data, and transmitting the modified C-SKPs via the upstream-facing pseudo-port.