SPI Emulation Switch for One-to-Many Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processor-based emulation systems face challenges in efficiently performing one-to-many communication over SPI protocols and in handling devices with different interface protocols, such as SPI and PCIe, which leads to inefficiencies in data transmission and processing.
Innovation Solution
An interface device with multiple communication interfaces, including SPI masters and a non-SPI interface, is introduced, enabling a single SPI master to communicate with multiple SPI clients and accommodating devices with different protocols through a controller that performs protocol conversion and arbitration, ensuring efficient data transmission and processing across various speeds and protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single SPI master communicates with multiple SPI clients using traditional SPI protocol, then communication coverage is improved, but communication speed and efficiency deteriorate due to protocol limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (emulation switch or interface device) that mediates between the SPI master and multiple SPI clients. This intermediary accepts serialized SPI data from the master, internally parallelizes it, and distributes it to multiple clients simultaneously, thereby maintaining high communication speed while achieving one-to-many connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from the traditional serialized SPI communication dimension to a parallel communication dimension internally. By parallelizing data within the intermediary device and then redistributing it, the system achieves multi-client communication without being constrained by the sequential nature of the SPI protocol.
2Adaptability or versatility
If devices with different interface protocols (SPI and PCIe) are integrated in the same emulation system, then system versatility is improved, but communication efficiency and speed matching deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal interface device that can handle multiple protocols (SPI and PCIe) through a common internal parallel interface. This multi-functional device allows different protocol devices to communicate efficiently by translating their respective protocols to the internal parallel bus, eliminating speed mismatch issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the communication parameters by introducing an internal parallel bus with high bandwidth that can accommodate the speed requirements of different protocols. The interface device adjusts data transfer parameters dynamically, converting serialized SPI data and PCIe data into a unified parallel format for efficient processing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If serialized SPI data is transmitted to multiple clients simultaneously, then communication coverage is improved, but data transmission efficiency and bandwidth utilization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by parallelizing the data before distribution to multiple clients. The intermediary device receives the serialized data, parallelizes it in advance using internal buffers and logic, and then distributes the parallel data to multiple clients simultaneously, thereby achieving efficient one-to-many communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the data transmission path into multiple independent channels within the intermediary device. By dividing the parallel data into separate streams for each client, the system can transmit data to multiple clients simultaneously without contention, improving overall transmission efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A device may include a plurality of first communication interfaces configured to communicate with a plurality of external client devices, a second communication interface configured to communicate with an external master device, a third communication interface configured to communicate with an external first device, and a first controller. The second communication interface may perform a one-to-many communication with the plurality of first communication interfaces over a first protocol. The third communication interface may communicate with the plurality of first communication interfaces or the second communication interface via the first controller over a second protocol that is different from the first protocol.