Link layer-phy interface adapter
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsNarasimha Lanka, Swadesh Choudhary, Mahesh Wagh, Lakshmipriya Seshan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adapter is provided that includes a first interface to couple to a particular device, where link layer data is to be communicated over the first interface, and a second interface to couple to a physical layer (PHY) device. The PHY device includes wires to implement a physical layer of a link, and the link couples the adapter to another adapter via the PHY device. The second interface includes a data channel to communicate the link layer data over the physical layer, and a sideband channel to communicate sideband messages between the adapter and the other adapter over the physical layer. The adapter is to implement a logical PHY for the link.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- an adapter comprising:
- a first interface to couple to a particular device, wherein link layer data is to be communicated over the first interface;
- a second interface to couple to a physical layer (PHY) device, wherein the PHY device comprises a plurality of wires to implement a physical layer of a link, the link couples the adapter to another adapter via the PHY device, and the second interface comprises:
- a data channel to communicate the link layer data over the physical layer;
- and
- a sideband channel to communicate sideband messages between the adapter and the other adapter over the physical layer;
- and
- circuitry to implement a logical PHY for the link.
A method comprising:
- receiving particular data at a first interface of an adapter device, wherein the first interface is based on a link-layer-to-PHY interface standard, and the particular data is based on the link-layer-to-PHY interface standard and indicates a request to transition to an active link state defined in a state machine;
- sending a request sideband signal on a second interface of the adapter device, wherein the second interface couples the adapter device to a PHY device, the second interface comprises a data channel and a separate sideband channel, the PHY device comprises a plurality of physical connectors to implement a physical layer of a link, and the sideband signal is to be sent to another adapter device coupled to the PHY device and indicates a request to enter the active link state;
- receiving an acknowledgement sideband signal on the sideband channel of the second interface from the other adapter device to acknowledge the request to enter the active link state;
- sending a signal on the first interface to indicate that the adapter device is prepared to receive link layer data to communicate on the link;
- receiving the link layer data;
- and
- transmitting the link layer data on the data channel of the second interface to transmit the link layer data to the other adapter device over the PHY device based on entry to the active link state.
A system comprising:
- a first die comprising:
- link layer circuitry to implement a link layer of a protocol;
- an adapter comprising:
- a first interface, wherein link layer data associated with the link layer circuitry is to be communicated over the first interface;
- a second interface to couple to a physical layer (PHY) device, wherein the PHY device comprises a plurality of wires to implement a physical layer of a link, the link is to couple the first die to a second die via the PHY device, and the second interface comprises:
- a data channel to communicate the link layer data to the PHY device for communication on the link;
- and
- a sideband channel to communicate sideband messages between the adapter and another adapter on the second die;
- and
- circuitry to implement a logical PHY for the link.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.