Single Communication Port Scheduling for Multi-Device Speed Bottlenecks

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data handling apparatuses face limitations when communicating with multiple devices of different operating speeds, as the slowest device acts as a bottleneck, and existing solutions requiring multiple communication ports are physically larger and more expensive.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves ascertaining the operating characteristics of the system and each device, calculating operating parameters, and establishing a schedule to optimize communication via a single communication port, allowing for efficient data exchange without the need for additional ports.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If two communication ports are provided to avoid bottleneck effects, then communication speed is improved, but device complexity and physical size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication speedVSAvoidnumber of communication ports

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary characterization of each device's operating speed and establishes an access schedule before communication begins. This allows the single communication port to be efficiently allocated to different devices at different times based on their speed requirements, avoiding bottlenecks without needing multiple ports.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The communication port dynamically switches between different devices based on the established schedule and device operating speeds. The system adapts the port's connection state in real-time, connecting to the appropriate device at each time slot according to the pre-calculated access schedule, thereby optimizing communication throughput with a single port.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If two communication ports are provided to avoid bottleneck effects, then communication speed is improved, but product cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication speedVSAvoidproduct cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A single communication port is designed to serve multiple storage devices with different operating speeds by implementing time-division multiplexing. The port performs the function of multiple ports sequentially according to the access schedule, eliminating the need for duplicate hardware interfaces and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining high communication productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of the single communication port over time, switching between different devices based on their characteristic speeds. By adjusting the port's connection target and timing parameters according to the pre-established schedule, the system achieves optimized communication performance without requiring additional hardware investment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the slowest device determines the communication speed, then communication simplicity is maintained, but productivity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication control simplicityVSAvoidoverall operation speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The communication system operates in periodic time slots, cycling through different devices according to the pre-established access schedule. Each device is allocated specific time windows for communication based on its speed characteristics, allowing the system to maintain simple control logic while achieving high overall productivity through structured periodic access patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS7327751B2Method and apparatus for accessing a plurality of devices using a single communication port

Publication Date: 2008.02.05 TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC

AI summary

A method for accessing a plurality of devices by a system using a single communication port communicatively coupled with each respective device of the plurality of devices includes the steps of: (a) in no particular order: (1) ascertaining selected operating characteristics of the system; and (2) ascertaining selected operating characteristics of each respective device; (b) calculating operating parameters of the system operating with each respective device; (c) establishing a schedule for operating the system with each respective device; and (d) operating the system with each respective device according to the schedule.