Transmit adaptive equalization for communication system with one or more serial data channels

An apparatus for use in a communication system having a plurality of nodes, the apparatus comprising:

• a first node, the first node comprising a transmitter configured for communication with a receiver of a second node and a receiver configured for communication with a transmitter of the second node;
• the first node being operative:
• (i) to receive in the first node receiver from the transmitter of the second node, responsive to a signal transmitted by the transmitter of the first node to the receiver of the second node, information specifying an adjustment to one or more equalization parameters of the transmitter of the first node, and (ii) to adjust the one or more equalization parameters in accordance with the received information;
• wherein the information specifying an adjustment to one or more equalization parameters of the transmitter of the first node comprises a request command transmitted utilizing a Basic Link Services (BLS) command format;
• and
• wherein the request command is inserted in a frame header, and comprises a command code and a parameter field specifying a particular action.

An apparatus for use in a communication system having a plurality of nodes, the apparatus comprising:

• a first node, the first node comprising a transmitter configured for communication with a receiver of a second node and a receiver configured for communication with a transmitter of the second node;
• the first node being operative:
• (i) to receive in the first node receiver from the transmitter of the second node, responsive to a signal transmitted by the transmitter of the first node to the receiver of the second node, information specifying an adjustment to one or more equalization parameters of the transmitter of the first node, and (ii) to adjust the one or more equalization parameters in accordance with the received information;
• wherein the information specifying an adjustment to one or more equalization parameters of the transmitter of the first node comprises a request command transmitted utilizing an Extended Link Services (ELS) command format;
• and
• wherein the request command is inserted in a frame payload, and comprises a command code and a parameter field specifying a particular action.

An integrated circuit for use in a communication system having a plurality of nodes, the integrated circuit implementing at least a portion of a first node, the first node comprising a transmitter configured for communication with a receiver of a second node and a receiver configured for communication with a transmitter of the second node, the first node being operative:

• (i) to receive in the receiver of the first node from the transmitter of the second node, responsive to a signal transmitted by the transmitter of the first node to the receiver of the second node, information specifying an adjustment to one or more equalization parameters of the transmitter of the first node, and (ii) to adjust the one or more equalization parameters in accordance with the received information;
• wherein the information specifying an adjustment to one or more equalization parameters of the transmitter of the first node comprises a request command transmitted utilizing a link services command format of one of at least a first type and a second type, the request command comprising a command code and a parameter field specifying a particular action;
• wherein if the link services command format is of the first type, the request command is inserted in a frame header;
• and
• wherein if the link services command format is of the second type, the request command is inserted in a frame payload.

A method for use in a communication system having a plurality of nodes, including at least a first node comprising a transmitter configured for communication with a receiver of a second node and a receiver configured for communication with a transmitter of the second node, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving in the receiver of the first node from the transmitter of the second node, responsive to a signal transmitted by the transmitter of the first node to the receiver of the second node, information specifying an adjustment to one or more equalization parameters of the transmitter of the first node;
• and
• adjusting the one or more equalization parameters in accordance with the received information;
• wherein the information specifying an adjustment to one or more equalization parameters of the transmitter of the first node comprises a request command transmitted utilizing a link services command format of one of at least a first type and a second type, the request command comprising a command code and a parameter field specifying a particular action;
• wherein if the link services command format is of the first type, the request command is inserted in a frame header;
• and
• wherein if the link services command format is of the second type, the request command is inserted in a frame payload.

An article of manufacture comprising a machine-readable storage medium having one or more software programs stored therein, for use in a communication system having a plurality of nodes, including at least a first node comprising a transmitter configured for communication with a receiver of a second node and a receiver configured for communication with a transmitter of the second node, the first node being operative under control of the one or more software programs to perform the steps of:

• receiving in the receiver of the first node from the transmitter of the second node, responsive to a signal transmitted by the transmitter of the first node to the receiver of the second node, information specifying an adjustment to one or more equalization parameters of the transmitter of the first node;
• and
• adjusting the one or more equalization parameters in accordance with the received information;
• wherein the information specifying an adjustment to one or more equalization parameters of the transmitter of the first node comprises a request command transmitted utilizing a link services command format of one of at least a first type and a second type, the request command comprising a command code and a parameter field specifying a particular action;
• wherein if the link services command format is of the first type, the request command is inserted in a frame header;
• and
• wherein if the link services command format is of the second type, the request command is inserted in a frame payload.

An apparatus for use in a communication system having a plurality of nodes, the apparatus comprising:

• a first node comprising a transmitter configured for communication with a receiver of a second node and a receiver configured for communication with a transmitter of the second node;
• the first node being operative to adjust one or more equalization parameters of its associated transmitter, responsive to information received from the second node in conjunction with a transmit adaptive equalization process, the process being implemented substantially during an otherwise idle period in data communication between the first and second nodes;
• wherein the information received from the second node comprises a request command transmitted utilizing a link services command format of one of at least a first type and a second type, the request command comprising a command code and a parameter field specifying a particular action;
• wherein if the link services command format is of the first type, the request command is inserted in a frame header;
• and
• wherein if the link services command format is of the second type, the request command is inserted in a frame payload.