# US 2017/0286348 A1 · Function extenders for enhancing a displayport feature set > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0286348 A1 - Document ID: US20170286348A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/087,748 - Filed: 2016-03-31 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Intel Corporation - Applicants: Intel Corporation - Inventors: Srikanth Kambhatla - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170286348A1 ## CPC - G06F 13/4081: {Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging (current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004)} - G06F 13/4282: {on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus (on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247)} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Function extender devices for enhancing feature sets for display arrangements having source devices and sink devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a non-addressable device is disclosed for use in a system having a source and a sink to communicate with each other via a bus, where the non-addressable device comprises a functional logic block for coupling between the source and the sink and operable to perform at least one function on data of one or both of the first channel for video and audio data or data of a sideband channel received from the source, where the data of the first channel for video and audio data and data of a sideband channel are received from the source being addressed to the sink. The device also comprises a Physical (PHY) repeater operable to transmit data of both the first channel and the sideband channel after performance of the at least one function by the functional logic block on the data of one or both of the first channel or the sideband channel received from the source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A non-addressable device for use in a system having a source and a sink to communicate with each other via a bus, the non-addressable device comprising: a functional logic block for coupling between the source and the sink and operable to perform at least one function on data of one or both of the first channel for video and audio data or data of a sideband channel received from the source, the data of the first channel for video and audio data and data of a sideband channel received from the source being addressed to the sink; and a Physical (PHY) repeater operable to transmit data of both the first channel and the sideband channel after performance of the at least one function by the functional logic block on the data of one or both of the first channel or the sideband channel received from the source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The non-addressable device defined in claim 1 wherein the source and the sink communicate using a DisplayPort bus according to the DisplayPort (DP) standard, and further wherein the DP bus includes a Main Link channel, an auxiliary (AUX) channel and a Hot Plug Detect (HPD) line, and the sideband channel being the AUX channel and the video and audio data bus being the Main Link channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The non-addressable device defined in claim 2 wherein the functional logic block is operable to process accesses to a set of DPCD registers in the AUX channel that are for one or both of controlling and configuring the functional logic block. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The non-addressable device defined in claim 3 wherein the functional logic block does not propagate accesses to the set of DPCD registers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The non-addressable device defined in claim 2 wherein the PHY repeater is a Link-Training tunable PHY repeater operable to boost electrical characteristics of the Main Link channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The non-addressable device defined in claim 2 wherein the at least one function reformats or enhances video or audio data of the Main Link channel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The non-addressable device defined in claim 2 wherein the at least one function comprises a set of partial functions to be performed on the data of the Main Link channel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The non-addressable device defined in claim 2 wherein at least one function extends a feature set implemented by the source where the at least one function is not performed by the source. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The non-addressable device defined in claim 2 wherein the at least one function is operable in conjunction with at least one other function performed by a second non-addressable device having another functional logic block operable to perform the at least one other function when the first and second non-addressable devices are coupled together in a cascaded arrangement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The non-addressable device defined in claim 9 wherein the at least one function and the at least one other function are portions of an operation split over the first non-addressable device and the at least one second non-addressable device. ### Claim 11 A system comprising: a source; a sink operable to communicate with the source using a DisplayPort (DP) bus that adheres to the DP standard, wherein the DP bus includes a Main Link channel, an auxiliary (AUX) channel and a Hot Plug Detect (HPD) line; a first non-addressable device coupled between the source and the sink for use in a system having a source and a sink, the non-addressable device comprising a first functional logic block for coupling between the source and the sink and operable to perform at least one function on data of one or both of the Main Link channel or data of the AUX channel received from the source, the data of the Main Link channel and the data of the AUX channel being addressed to the sink; and a Link-Training tunable Physical (PHY) repeater operable to transmit data of both the Main Link channel and the AUX channel after performance of the at least one function by the first functional logic block on the data of one or both of the Main Link channel or the AUX channel received from the source. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system device defined in claim 11 wherein the first functional logic block is operable to process accesses to a set of DPCD registers in the AUX channel that are for one or both of controlling and configuring the first functional logic block. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system defined in claim 12 wherein the first functional logic block does not propagate accesses to the set of DPCD registers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system defined in claim 11 wherein the repeater is operable to boost electrical characteristics of the Main Link channel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system defined in claim 11 further comprising a second non-addressable device coupled in a cascaded arrangement with the first non-addressable device and having a second functional logic block operable to perform the at least one other function to the data of the Main Link or AUX to which the at least one function of the first non-addressable device is performed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system defined in claim 15 wherein the at least one function and the at least one other function are portions of an operation split over the first non-addressable device and the second non-addressable device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system defined in claim 11 wherein the first non-addressable device is cascadable with up to seven other non-addressable devices operable to perform functions on data of one or both of the Main Link channel or data of the AUX channel received from the source. ### Claim 18 A method for use in a computing system having a source that sends data addressed to a sink, the method comprising: receiving, by a non-addressable device, from the source, data addressed to the sink on first and second channels, the first channel for video and audio data or the second channel for sideband information; performing at least one function on data of one or both of the first and second channels; and transmitting data of both the first and second channels, using a Physical (PHY) repeater, after performance of the at least one function on the data of one or both of the first channel or the sideband channel received from the source. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method defined in claim 18 wherein the source and the sink communicate using a DisplayPort (DP) bus according to the DP standard, and further wherein the first channel comprises a DP Main Link channel and the second channel comprises a DP auxiliary (AUX) channel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method defined in claim 19 wherein the at least one function includes processing accesses to a set of DPCD registers in the AUX channel that are for one or both of controlling and configuring the functional logic block. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method defined in claim 19 wherein the PHY repeater is a Link-Training tunable PHY repeater operable to boost electrical characteristics of the Main Link channel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The method defined in claim 19 wherein the at least one function reformats or enhances video or audio data of the Main Link channel. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The method defined in claim 19 wherein the at least one function comprises multiple functions to be performed on the data of the Main Link channel. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The method defined in claim 19 wherein the at least one function extends functionality performed by the source as the at least one function is not performed by the source. ### Claim 25 An article of manufacture having one or more non-transitory computer readable media storing instructions which, when executed by a system having a source that sends data addressed to a sink, cause the system to perform a method comprising: receiving, by a non-addressable device, from the source, data addressed to the sink on first and second channels, the first channel for video and audio data or the second channel for sideband information; performing at least one function on data of one or both of the first and second channels; and transmitting data of both the first and second channels, using a Physical (PHY) repeater, after performance of the at least one function on the data of one or both of the first channel or the sideband channel received from the source. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The article of manufacture defined in claim 25 wherein the source and the sink communicate using a DisplayPort (DP) bus according to the DP standard, and further wherein the first channel comprises a DP Main Link channel and the second channel comprises a DP auxiliary (AUX) channel. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The article of manufacture defined in claim 26 wherein the at least one function includes processing accesses to a set of DPCD registers in the AUX channel that are for one or both of controlling and configuring the functional logic block.