Single Buffer Serial Data Cell Mechanism for Network Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data interface systems consume significant circuit area and suffer from inefficient buffer space utilization when handling data requests from multiple sources, as they employ buffer matrices with partially filled FIFO buffers.
Innovation Solution
A network device with a single buffer comprising serially connected register data cells that serially store data attributes and source identifiers, allowing for efficient matching and output of responses to corresponding data requests through push and pop commands, reducing circuit area consumption and improving buffer space utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a buffer matrix with multiple FIFO buffers is used to handle data requests from multiple sources, then the data interface can maintain order for each data source, but the circuit area consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate FIFO buffers into a single shared buffer structure. Instead of having dedicated FIFO buffers for each data source (which consume significant area), the invention uses one buffer that all sources share, with each source having a designated input port. This combining approach maintains the ability to track and match responses to specific sources while dramatically reducing the total circuit area required.
Solution Approach 2:
The single buffer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it stores data requests from multiple different sources, maintains ordering information for each source, and enables response matching for all sources. This multi-functional design replaces the need for separate dedicated buffers for each source, achieving both space efficiency and functional completeness.
2Ease of operation
If dedicated FIFO buffers are allocated for each data source, then response matching can be simplified, but buffer space utilization becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms including source identification tags that travel with data requests through the shared buffer, and a response matching mechanism that uses these tags to identify which source generated each request. This feedback system allows the single buffer to efficiently match responses to the correct sources without requiring separate dedicated buffers, maintaining operational simplicity while improving space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces source identification tags as intermediaries that link data requests to their originating sources. These tags are inserted when requests enter the buffer and used when responses need to be matched back to sources. This intermediary mechanism enables efficient response matching in a shared buffer environment without requiring complex tracking structures.
3Reliability
If multiple separate buffers are used for different data sources, then data integrity for each source is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the buffer management functionality into distinct components: separate input ports for each data source, source identification tagging mechanism, and response matching logic. This segmentation allows the single buffer to handle multiple sources independently while maintaining data integrity for each source, and reduces overall complexity compared to managing multiple separate buffer structures.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein use a single buffer that comprises a plurality of serially connected data cells to serially store data attributes and the respective data source identifiers from incoming data requests such that each stored data source identifier is used to match with a response message that corresponds to a respective data request. When a response message is received at the data interface, the data interface searches among the previously stored data attributes at the single buffer and selectively outputs a previously stored data attribute that corresponds to a data request to match with the response message. The data interface then uses information from the previously stored data attribute to route the response message to the data source that originates the data request.