USB Sideband Communications for Energy-Efficient System Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network controllers for system management communication, such as those using SMBus/I2C, FML, and RMII, face limitations in speed and energy efficiency, particularly in supporting video and media redirection, and require management controllers to remain powered even in low-power states, violating energy conservation standards.
Innovation Solution
The use of a universal serial bus (USB) for sideband communications, which differentiates between in-band and out-of-band data, multiplexes information, and employs a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) process to generate addresses, allowing for efficient communication between a communications network, computing device, and auxiliary device, including a wake mechanism to conserve energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If SMBus/I2C is used for sideband communication, then pin-count is low and availability is high, but communication speed is insufficient for video and media redirection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies USB technology, which is a universal interface standard already widely available in third-party management controllers, to provide sideband communication capabilities. This resolves the contradiction by using an existing, widely-available interface (USB) that inherently provides the required high speed for video and media redirection, eliminating the need to choose between speed and availability.
2Speed
If RMII or RMII-based interfaces are used for sideband communication, then bandwidth is sufficient for video and media redirection, but pin-count is high and routing distance is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the universal USB interface standard, which is already integrated into most computing devices, to provide the required communication bandwidth. This approach avoids the high pin-count requirement of RMII interfaces while achieving sufficient speed for video and media redirection through USB's inherent capabilities.
3Use of energy by moving object
If existing network controllers are used for system management, then communication functionality is provided, but management controllers must remain powered in low-power states, violating energy conservation standards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sideband communication functionality from the main system power management, allowing the management controller to enter low-power states while USB communication capabilities remain available through the wake mechanism. This separation enables energy conservation while maintaining communication reliability, as USB can wake the system from low-power states without requiring continuous power to the management controller.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a wake mechanism that allows USB communication to function before the main system is fully powered on. This preliminary action capability enables the system to respond to USB communications in low-power states and wake up as needed, ensuring communication reliability while maintaining energy efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses that utilize a serial bus, such as a universal serial bus (USB), for communications between a communications network, a computing device, and an auxiliary device are disclosed. Some embodiments comprise methods handling sideband communications using serial buses. One or more of the embodiments comprise differentiating in-band data from out-of-band data, transferring information of the in-band data between a communications network and a computing device, and transferring information of the out-of-band data between the communications network and an auxiliary device. Some embodiments comprise an apparatus having a communications network interface, an auxiliary device interface, and a computing device interface. Of the interfaces, one or more may be a serial bus interface. The apparatus may differentiate between in-band and out-of-band data and communicate information of the out-of-band data to an auxiliary device. In some embodiments, the apparatus may also transfer control information. In some embodiments, information may be routed based upon cyclic redundancy check (CRC) information.