Multi-thread, multi-speed, multi-mode interconnect protocol controller
OwnerDavid M. Weber, Silvia E. Jaeckel +1inventors
InventorsDavid M. Weber, Silvia E. Jaeckel, Mark Miquelon
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Abstract
The present invention is a novel system and method for implementing multiple protocol definitions including multiple interconnect protocols and protocol methods. Protocol methods may include a single-thread, multi-speed interconnect protocol method and a multi-thread, single-speed interconnect protocol method with shared resources on a single die. Various aspects of serializer/deserializer, encoder/decoder, aggregator, and protocol functions may be shared among both protocol definitions to provide cost and real estate efficiency.
Claims17
An apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a single die;
- (b) a first circuitry disposed on said single die including:
- a deserializer for converting at least one serial differential bit stream into a character stream;
- a decoder receiving said character stream to form a decoded data stream;
- and
- a means for aggregating said decoded data stream and reconstructing a parallel word according to a desired protocol definition;
- (c) a second circuitry disposed on said single die including:
- a means for presenting a second parallel word according to said desired protocol definition to form an altered data stream,
- an encoder receiving said altered data stream to form an encoded data stream;
- a serializer for converting said encoded data stream into said at least one serial differential bit stream, wherein said first circuitry and said second circuitry are capable of implementing at least two interconnect protocol definitions.
A method, comprising:
- (a) converting a at least one serial data stream to a character stream;
- (b) decoding of said character stream to form a decoded data stream;
- and
- (c) aggregating said decoded data stream according to a desired interconnect protocol definition;
- wherein circuitry disposed on a single die is capable of transforming at least one serial bit stream into a word in accordance with at least two interconnect protocol definitions.
A method, comprising:
- (a) selecting a word stream for transmission;
- (b) presenting said word stream according to a desired interconnect protocol definition to form an altered data stream;
- (c) encoding said altered data stream to form an encoded data stream;
- and
- (d) converting said encoded data stream to at least one serial differential bit stream;
- wherein circuitry disposed on a single die is capable of transforming said word stream into at least one serial differential bit stream in accordance with at least two interconnect protocol definitions.
An apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a single die;
- (b) means for transforming at least one serial differential bit stream into a parallel word;
- said transforming means being disposed on said single die;
- (c) means for converting a second parallel word into at least one serial differential bit stream;
- said converting means being disposed on said single die;
- said converting means including an input selector in which said apparatus operates according to a selected protocol definition;
- wherein said transforming means and said converting means are capable of implementing at least two interconnect protocol definitions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.