Virtual Physical Lane Mapping Determination in Multi-Lane Transceivers
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Solution Overview
Problem
In IEEE 100 Gbps Ethernet systems, the dynamic M:N mapping between virtual and physical lanes makes it difficult to determine the operational bit-error-rate (BER) of each physical lane, as the mapping is not fixed and can change randomly, hindering troubleshooting and performance assessment.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that apply an impairment to a physical lane to increase bit errors, allowing for the determination of test bit error rates of virtual lanes, which identifies which virtual lanes are mapped to the impaired physical lane, and subsequently determines the current mapping between virtual and physical lanes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic M:N mapping is used between virtual lanes and physical lanes, then adaptability and resource utilization are improved, but measurement precision and troubleshooting capability deteriorate because the mapping is not fixed and cannot be determined a priori
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by inserting known training sequences or test patterns into virtual lanes before transmission. These predetermined signals allow the receiving end to identify which physical lane corresponds to which virtual lane by detecting the known patterns, thereby establishing the dynamic mapping relationship before actual data transmission begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the receiving end monitors bit error rates on physical lanes and reports back to the transmitting end. By correlating BER measurements with the inserted training sequences, the system can determine the mapping relationship between virtual and physical lanes dynamically, enabling accurate performance assessment despite the flexible mapping configuration.
2Productivity
If dynamic M:N mapping is used between virtual lanes and physical lanes, then resource utilization is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for mapping determination mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by creating simplified test copies or training sequences that replicate the structure of actual data lanes. These copied test signals are easier to track and analyze, allowing the system to determine mapping relationships without requiring complex real-time analysis of actual high-speed data transmission streams.
3Ease of operation
If fixed mapping scheme is used between virtual lanes and physical lanes, then ease of operation and troubleshooting are improved, but adaptability deteriorates because the mapping cannot be dynamically reconfigured
Solution Approach 1:
By inserting known training sequences beforehand, the system maintains ease of troubleshooting through predetermined test signals while enabling dynamic reconfiguration. The known patterns serve as fingerprints that make it easy to identify and track specific virtual lanes regardless of which physical lane they are currently mapped to.
Data Source
AI summary
For an apparatus which communicates data of a number of virtual lanes over a number of physical lanes, where the number of virtual lanes is different than the number of physical lanes and where a mapping between the virtual lanes and the physical lanes is not fixed, a method is provided for ascertaining the mapping between the virtual lanes and the physical lanes. The method includes: applying an impairment to a communication capability of one of the physical lanes so as to increase bit errors for data communicated via said one physical lane; determining a test bit error rate for each of the plurality of virtual lanes while the impairment is applied to the communication capability of the one physical lane; and ascertaining from the test bit error rates which of the virtual lanes is/are mapped to the one physical lane whose communication capability was impaired.