3dynamic configuration of an n-phase polarity data communications link

An apparatus comprising:

• means for determining a first set of connectors to carry a first data payload in multi-phase signals and for determining a second set of connectors to carry a second data payload in multi-phase signals, wherein the first set of connectors comprises a number of connectors calculated to satisfy a temporary bandwidth requirement, and wherein the second set of connectors comprises a number of connectors calculated to satisfy a maximum power consumption restriction;
• means for encoding the first data payload in a first set of symbols and for encoding the second data payload in a second set of symbols;
• and
• means for transmitting the first set of symbols in a first sequence of symbol intervals on the first set of connectors and for transmitting the second set of symbols in a second sequence of symbol intervals on the second set of connectors,
• wherein each symbol in the first set of symbols and in the second set of symbols is transmitted in a corresponding symbol interval by defining a phase state and a polarity of at least one pair of connectors and by refraining from driving at least one connector, and
• wherein a change of state of one or more connectors occurs at each transition between successive symbol intervals.

A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having one or more instructions which, when executed by at least one processing circuit, cause the at least one processing circuit to:

• determine a first set of connectors to carry a first data payload in a plurality of multi-phase signals, wherein the first set of connectors comprises a number of connectors calculated to satisfy one or more of a bandwidth requirement and a maximum power consumption restriction;
• encode the first data payload in a first set of symbols;
• and
• transmit the first set of symbols in a first sequence of symbol intervals on the first set of connectors,
• wherein each symbol in the first set of symbols is transmitted in a corresponding symbol interval by defining a phase state and a polarity of at least one pair of connectors in the first set of connectors and by refraining from driving at least one connector of the first set of connectors, and
• wherein a change of state of one or more connectors of the set of connectors occurs at each transition between successive symbol intervals.

A driver circuit adapted to dynamically configure a communications link in order to satisfy one or more of a bandwidth requirement and a maximum power consumption restriction, the driver circuit comprising:

• an encoder configured to generate a sequence of symbols from data to be transmitted on the communications link, wherein each symbol is transmitted in a corresponding symbol interval by defining a phase state and a polarity of at least one pair of connectors of the communications link and by refraining from driving at least one connector of the communications link;
• a plurality of line drivers, each line driver being configurable to drive one or more connectors of the communications link;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• determine a first set of connectors to carry a first data payload in a plurality of multi-phase signals on the communications link, wherein the first set of connectors comprises a number of connectors calculated to satisfy the bandwidth requirement or the maximum power consumption restriction;
• configure a portion of the line drivers to couple the encoder to the first set of connectors;
• and
• activate the portion of the line drivers according to the sequence of symbols generated by the encoder.