Virtual SATA Port Multiplier Physical Layer Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing SATA systems require multiple physical layer circuits for data transfer, leading to increased manufacturing costs, power consumption, and hardware size due to the need for multiple SATA physical layers between devices and a port multiplier.
Innovation Solution
A virtual SATA port multiplier and device that perform direct data transfer using non-physical layers, eliminating the need for SATA physical layers between them, while still maintaining compatibility with SATA hosts through standard physical layer signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple SATA physical layer circuits are used for data transfer between SATA host, port multiplier, and SATA devices, then data transmission reliability is ensured, but manufacturing cost, power consumption, and hardware size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the physical layer function from the port multiplier and SATA devices, retaining it only in the SATA host. The port multiplier and SATA devices communicate through upper layers (transport layer directly or via link layer), eliminating the need for physical layer circuits in these components while maintaining data transmission reliability through the host's physical layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The SATA host's physical layer is made multi-functional by enabling it to handle all physical layer communication tasks for multiple SATA devices connected through the port multiplier. The host's single physical layer circuit serves multiple devices by managing communications through the transport layer, replacing the need for dedicated physical layer circuits in each device and the port multiplier.
2Productivity
If SATA port multiplier and SATA devices are equipped with SATA physical layer circuits, then direct data transfer capability is provided, but manufacturing cost and hardware size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The physical layer circuit is extracted from the port multiplier and SATA devices, concentrating this functionality solely in the SATA host. This extraction eliminates the need for these components to be manufactured with expensive physical layer circuits, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and hardware size while the host retains full direct data transfer capability through its physical layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The SATA host acts as an intermediary that handles all physical layer communication. The port multiplier and SATA devices communicate with the host through upper layers, and the host mediates all physical layer interactions, enabling direct data transfer capability to be provided by the host alone rather than requiring each component to have its own physical layer circuit.
3Productivity
If multiple SATA physical layer circuits are deployed in the SATA system, then data transfer capability is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The physical layer function is extracted from the port multiplier and SATA devices, eliminating power-consuming physical layer circuits from these components. Only the SATA host retains the physical layer circuit and its associated power consumption, while data transfer capability is maintained through upper layer communication protocols that do not require additional power-hungry hardware in the peripheral devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual SATA port multiplier and a virtual SATA device are provided for a SATA system. The virtual SATA port multiplier uses a SATA physical layer for data transfer between it and a SATA host, and a non-physical layer for direct data transfer between it and the virtual SATA device. Since the data transfer between the virtual SATA port multiplier and the virtual SATA device is not carried out by way of SATA physical layers, no physical layer circuits are required accordingly, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost, power consumption and hardware size of the SATA system.