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US 7,599,391 B1Granted
Media and speed independent interface
AssigneeMarvell International Ltd.
InventorWilliam Lo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rate adaptation layer (RAL) module for converting from a first interface operating at a first rate to a second interface operating at a second rate comprises first and second input/output (I/O) modules that communicate with the first and second interfaces, respectively. A repeater module receives symbols from the first I/O module, and transmits the symbols n times to the second I/O module, where n is determined by the first and second rates. A pull-down module receives symbols from the second I/O module and selectively extracts symbols to be communicated to the first I/O module.
Claims21
A rate adaptation layer (RAL) module for converting from a first interface operating at a first rate to a second interface operating at a second rate, comprising:
- first and second input/output (I/O) modules that communicate with the first and second interfaces, respectively;
- a repeater module that receives symbols from said first I/O module, and transmits said symbols n times to said second I/O module, where n is determined by the first and second rates;
- a pull-down module that receives symbols from said second I/O module, and selectively extracts symbols to be communicated to said first I/O module;
- and
- a delimiter injection module that communicates a start symbol to said second I/O module to indicate a packet beginning and communicates a terminate symbol to said second I/O module to indicate a packet ending, wherein said delimiter injection module replaces a data symbol communicated from said repeater module to said second I/O module with said start symbol.
2 more elements
A rate adaptation layer (RAL) module for converting from a first interface operating at a first rate to a second interface operating at a second rate, comprising:
- first and second input/output (I/O) modules that communicate with the first and second interfaces, respectively;
- a repeater module that receives symbols from said first I/O module, and transmits said symbols n times to said second I/O module, where n is determined by the first and second rates, wherein said repeater module stripes repeated symbols across four lanes;
- a pull-down module that receives symbols from said second I/O module, and selectively extracts symbols to be communicated to said first I/O module;
- and
- a delimiter injection module that communicates a start symbol to said second I/O module to indicate a packet beginning and communicates a terminate symbol to said second I/O module to indicate a packet ending, wherein said delimiter injection module selectively inserts idle symbols before said terminate symbol to align said terminate and start symbols on the same one of said four lanes.
2 more elements
A rate adaptation layer (RAL) module for converting from a first interface operating at a first rate to a second interface operating at a second rate, comprising:
- first and second input/output (I/O) modules that communicate with the first and second interfaces, respectively;
- a repeater module that receives symbols from said first I/O module, and transmits said symbols n times to said second I/O module, where n is determined by the first and second rates;
- a pull-down module that receives symbols from said second I/O module, and selectively extracts symbols to be communicated to said first I/O module;
- and
- a carrier extend substitution module that selectively replaces symbols received from said first I/O module before said symbols are passed to said repeater module.
2 more elements
A rate adaptation layer (RAL) module for converting from a first interface operating at a first rate to a second interface operating at a second rate, comprising:
- first and second input/output (I/O) modules that communicate with the first and second interfaces, respectively;
- a repeater module that receives symbols from said first I/O module, and transmits said symbols n times to said second I/O module, where n is determined by the first and second rates;
- a pull-down module that receives symbols from said second I/O module, and selectively extracts symbols to be communicated to said first I/O module;
- and
- a nibble replicator module that, when enabled, replaces each four-bit nibble received from said first I/O module with a byte comprising two copies of said nibble, before passing said byte to said repeater module.
2 more elements
A rate adaptation layer (RAL) module for converting from a first interface operating at a first rate to a second interface operating at a second rate, comprising:
- first and second input/output (I/O) modules that communicate with the first and second interfaces, respectively;
- a repeater module that receives symbols from said first I/O module, and transmits said symbols n times to said second I/O module, where n is determined by the first and second rates;
- a pull-down module that receives symbols from said second I/O module, and selectively extracts symbols to be communicated to said first I/O module, wherein said pull-down module extracts one of x symbols, then one of y symbols, in alternating succession, wherein x is equal to a rounded up division of n by four, and wherein y is equal to a rounded down division of n by four.
A rate adaptation layer (RAL) module for converting from a first interface operating at a first rate to a second interface operating at a second rate, comprising:
- first and second input/output (I/O) modules that communicate with the first and second interfaces, respectively;
- a repeater module that receives symbols from said first I/O module, and transmits said symbols n times to said second I/O module, where n is determined by the first and second rates;
- a pull-down module that receives symbols from said second I/O module, and selectively extracts symbols to be communicated to said first I/O module, wherein said first I/O module inserts and removes idle symbols to retain clock synchronization with the first interface.
A method for operating a rate adaptation layer (RAL) module, comprising:
- providing a first interface operating at a first rate and a second interface operating at a second rate;
- providing first and second input/output (I/O) modules that communicate with the first and second interfaces, respectively;
- receiving symbols from said first I/O module;
- transmitting said symbols n times to said second I/O module, where n is determined by the first and second rates;
- selectively extracting symbols to be communicated to said first I/O module;
- communicating a start symbol to said second I/O module to indicate a packet beginning;
- communicating a terminate symbol to said second I/O module to indicate a packet ending;
- and
- replacing a data symbol communicated to said second I/O module with said start symbol.
6 more elements
A method for operating a rate adaptation layer (RAL) module, comprising:
- providing a first interface operating at a first rate and a second interface operating at a second rate;
- providing first and second input/output (I/O) modules that communicate with the first and second interfaces, respectively;
- receiving symbols from said first I/O module;
- transmitting said symbols n times to said second I/O module, where n is determined by the first and second rates;
- selectively extracting symbols to be communicated to said first I/O module;
- communicating a start symbol to said second I/O module to indicate a packet beginning;
- communicating a terminate symbol to said second I/O module to indicate a packet ending;
- striping repeated symbols across four lanes;
- and
- selectively inserting idle symbols before said terminate symbol to align said terminate and start symbols on the same one of said four lanes.
7 more elements
A method for operating a rate adaptation layer (RAL) module, comprising:
- providing a first interface operating at a first rate and a second interface operating at a second rate;
- providing first and second input/output (I/O) modules that communicate with the first and second interfaces, respectively;
- receiving symbols from said first I/O module;
- transmitting said symbols n times to said second I/O module, where n is determined by the first and second rates;
- selectively extracting symbols to be communicated to said first I/O module;
- selectively replacing symbols received from said first I/O module before they are transmitted;
- replacing a carrier extend symbol with an idle symbol;
- and
- replacing a carrier extend/error symbol with a symbol error.
6 more elements
A method for operating a rate adaptation layer (RAL) module, comprising:
- providing a first interface operating at a first rate and a second interface operating at a second rate;
- providing first and second input/output (I/O) modules that communicate with the first and second interfaces, respectively;
- receiving symbols from said first I/O module;
- transmitting said symbols n times to said second I/O module, where n is determined by the first and second rates;
- selectively extracting symbols to be communicated to said first I/O module;
- and
- selectively replacing each four-bit nibble received from said first I/O module with a byte comprising two copies of said nibble before passing said byte to be transmitted.
4 more elements
A method for operating a rate adaptation layer (RAL) module, comprising:
- providing a first interface operating at a first rate and a second interface operating at a second rate;
- providing first and second input/output (I/O) modules that communicate with the first and second interfaces, respectively;
- receiving symbols from said first I/O module;
- transmitting said symbols n times to said second I/O module, where n is determined by the first and second rates;
- selectively extracting symbols to be communicated to said first I/O module;
- and
- extracting one of x symbols, then one of V symbols, in alternating succession, wherein x is equal to a rounded up division of n by four, and wherein y is equal to a rounded down division of n by four.
4 more elements
A method for operating a rate adaptation layer (RAL) module, comprising:
- providing a first interface operating at a first rate and a second interface operating at a second rate;
- providing first and second input/output (I/O) modules that communicate with the first and second interfaces, respectively;
- receiving symbols from said first I/O module;
- transmitting said symbols n times to said second I/O module, where n is determined by the first and second rates;
- selectively extracting symbols to be communicated to said first I/O module;
- and
- inserting and removing idle symbols to retain clock synchronization with the first interface.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.