Data processing system and method with dynamic idle for tunable interface calibration
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsMichael Stephen Floyd, Ravi Kumar Arimilli, Daniel Mark Dreps, Frank David Ferraiolo, Kevin F. Reick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A data processing system includes a mechanism to periodically idle the normal system operation to allow recalibration of its interface circuitry by transmission of data with transitions and logic levels indicative of actual operation. Provision is made to protect actual data of the system from corruption during recalibration.
Claims25
A data processing system comprising:
- a first data processing device, a second data processing device, and a third data processing device;
- a communication fabric including at least a first communication link coupling the first and second data processing devices for point-to-point communication therebetween and a second communication link coupling the second and third data processing devices for point-to-point communication therebetween;
- fabric maintenance logic that generates a recalibration signal;
- fabric control logic coupled to the communication fabric, wherein the fabric control logic, responsive to the recalibration signal, transmits a halt packet via the first and second communication links to multiple ones of the first, second and third data processing devices to concurrently idle transfer of system data on the first and second communication links between the first, second, and third data processing devices;
- and
- a collection of tunable interfaces within the first, second and third data processing devices that communicates test data via the first and second communication links while transmission of system data via the first and second communication links is idle, wherein said collection of tunable interfaces recalibrates a parameter of transmission of system data via the communication fabric in response to communication of the test data over the first and second communication links.
A data processing system implemented method of communication in a data processing system including tunable interfaces connecting data processing devices while maintaining integrity of system data begin processed in the data processing system, said method comprising:
- communicating system data between a first data processing device, a second data processing device, and a third data processing device via a communication fabric including at least a first communication link coupling the first and second data processing devices for point-to-point communication and a second communication link coupling the second and third data processing devices for point-to-point communication;
- generating a recalibration signal;
- in response to the recalibration signal, transmitting a halt packet via the first and second communication links to multiple ones of said first, second and third data processing devices to concurrently idle transfer of system data between the first, second and third data processing devices via the communication fabric;
- and
- thereafter, transmitting test data between the first, second and third data processing devices via the first and second communication links while system data transfer is idle;
- and
- a collection of tunable interfaces within the first, second and third data processing device recalibrating a parameter of transmission of system data via the communication fabric in response to communication of the test data over the first and second communication links.
A first data processing device for a data processing system including at least first, second and third data processing devices and a communication fabric including at least a first communication link coupling the first and second data processing devices for point-to-point communication and a second communication link coupling the second and third data processing devices for point-to-point communication, said first data processing device comprising:
- fabric maintenance logic that generates a recalibration signal at predetermined intervals;
- fabric control logic, coupled to communication fabric, that responsive to the recalibration signal transmits a halt packet via the first and second communication links to multiple ones of said first, second and third data processing devices to concurrently idle transfer of system data on the first and second communication links between the first, second and third data processing devices;
- and
- a tunable interface that communicates test data via to first and second communication links while transmission of system data via the first and second communication links is idle, wherein said tunable interface recalibrates a parameter of transmission of system data in response to communication of the test data over the first and second communication links.
A data processing system comprising:
- a first data processing device, a second data processing device, and a third data processing device;
- a communication fabric including at least a first communication link coupling the first and second data processing devices for point-to-point communication and a second communication link coupling the second and third data processing devices for point-to-point communication;
- fabric maintenance logic that generates a recalibration signal at predetermined intervals;
- fabric control logic, coupled to the communication fabric, that responsive to the recalibration signal transmits a halt packet via the first and second communication links to concurrently idle transfer of system data on the first and second communication links between the first, second and third data processing devices;
- and
- a collection of tunable interfaces within the first, second and third data processing devices that communicates test data via the first and second communication links during a test period while transmission of system data is idle, wherein said test data includes a greater number of transitions and logic levels in said test period than a corresponding period of transmission of system data, wherein said collection of tunable interfaces recalibrates a parameter of transmission of system data in response to communication of the test data over the first and second communication links in order to compensate for at least one of a set of temperature drift and voltage drift.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.