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US 7,609,688 B2Granted
Serialized bus communication and control architecture
AssigneeFujitsu Limited
InventorRobert J. Dittmar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A serial bus communication system for communication across the backplane of a node includes a control unit having a serial bus controller operable to convert between parallel signals and serialized signals. A plurality of service units each include a serial bus terminator. A serial bus includes a discrete serial channel for each service unit. The serial channel connects the serial bus terminator to the serial bus controller. The serial bus controller is operable to direct a message for a service unit on the serial bus to only the serial channel of the service unit.
Claims17
A serial bus communication system for communicating across a backplane of a node, comprising:
- a control unit including a serial bus controller and a processing unit;
- a plurality of service units each including a serial bus terminator;
- a serial bus including a discrete serial channel for each service unit, the serial channel connecting the serial bus terminator to the serial bus controller;
- the serial bus controller operable to convert parallel signals from the processing unit to a serial signal to be transmitted to one of the plurality of service units, and to convert a serial signal from one of the plurality of service units to parallel signals to be transmitted to the processing unit;
- and
- the serial bus controller further operable to direct a message for a service unit on the serial bus to only the serial channel of the service unit.
3 more elements
A serial bus communication system for communicating across a backplane of a node, comprising:
- a control unit including a serial bus controller operable to convert between parallel signals and serialized signals;
- a plurality of service units each including a serial bus terminator;
- a serial bus including a discrete serial channel for each service unit, the serial channel connecting the serial bus terminator to the serial bus controller;
- the serial bus controller operable to direct a message for a service unit on the serial bus to only the serial channel of the service unit;
- a processor operable to generate linked-lists to perform multiple block data transfer operations and to generate direct requests to perform sole data transfer operations;
- a linked-list output system operable to perform block data transfer operations by processing linked-lists;
- a processor output system operable to perform sole data transfer operations by processing direct requests;
- and
- an arbitrator operable to allow both the linked-list and direct request processing systems to simultaneously perform data transfer operations so long as disparate service units are being accessed.
6 more elements
A serial bus communication system for communicating across a backplane of a node, comprising:
- a control unit including a serial bus controller operable to convert between parallel signals and serialized signals;
- a plurality of service units each including a serial bus terminator;
- a serial bus including a discrete serial channel for each service unit, the serial channel connecting the serial bus terminator to the serial bus controller;
- the serial bus controller operable to direct a message for a service unit on the serial bus to only the serial channel of the service unit;
- a processor operable to generate low priority linked-lists for performing low priority data transfer operations and to generate high priority linked-lists for performing high priority data transfer operations;
- a linked-list processing system further comprising:
- a set of low priority registers operable to store processing information for low priority linked-lists;
- a set of high priority registers operable to store processing information for high priority linked-lists;
- a context controller operable to direct a linked-list controller to the set of high priority registers in response to a high priority linked-list identified by the set of high priority registers and to the set of low priority registers in response to a low priority linked-list identified by the low priority registers and in the absence of a high priority linked-list;
- and
- the linked-list controller operable to process a linked-list identified by the register indicated by the context controller.
8 more elements
A method for communicating messages between a control unit and a plurality of service units in a node, comprising:
- providing a serial bus between the control unit and the service units, the control unit operable to convert parallel signals from a processing unit to a serial signal to be transmitted to one of the plurality of service units, and to convert a serial signal from one of the plurality of service units to parallel signals to be transmitted to the processing unit, the serial bus including a discrete serial channel connecting each service unit to the control unit;
- generating at the control unit a request for a data transfer operation at a destination service unit;
- and
- transmitting the message on the serial bus to only the serial channel of the destination service unit.
1 more element
A method for communicating messages between a control unit and a plurality of service units in a node, comprising:
- providing a serial bus between the control unit and the service units, the control unit operable to convert between parallel signals and serialized signals, the serial bus including a discrete serial channel connecting each service unit to the control unit;
- generating at the control unit a request for a data transfer operation at a destination service unit;
- transmitting the message on the serial bus to only the serial channel of the destination service unit;
- generating a linked-list request for performing a series of specified data transfer operations at a first destination service unit;
- generating a direct access request for performing a specified data transfer operation at a second destination service unit;
- determining whether the first and second destination service units are disparate service units;
- and
- transmitting the linked-list and direct access request in response to determining the first and second destination service units comprise disparate service units.
5 more elements
A method for communicating messages between a control unit and a plurality of service units in a node, comprising:
- providing a serial bus between the control unit and the service units, the control unit operable to convert between parallel signals and serialized signals, the serial bus including a discrete serial channel connecting each service unit to the control unit;
- generating at the control unit a request for a data transfer operation at a destination service unit;
- transmitting the message on the serial bus to only the serial channel of the destination service unit;
- wherein the request comprises a low priority linked-list request for performing a series of data transfer operations at the destination service unit, further comprising:
- generating a high priority linked-list request for performing a series of data transfer operations at a second service unit;
- interrupting transmission of the low priority linked-list request on the serial bus;
- transmitting the high priority linked-list request on the serial bus on only the serial channel of the second destination service unit;
- and
- resume transmitting the low priority linked-list request on only the serial channel of the destination service unit upon completion of the high priority linked-list request.
6 more elements
A system for resetting remote resources for synchronization with a controller, comprising:
- a control unit;
- a plurality of service units;
- a serial bus including a discrete serial channel for each service unit, the serial channel connecting the service unit to the control unit and including a clock link operable to transmit a clock signal from the control unit to the service unit;
- the control unit operable to convert between parallel signals and serialized signals and to interrupt the clock signal on the clock link to a service unit in response to a reset event for the service unit;
- and
- the service unit including a clock detector operable to detect an interruption in the clock signal and in response to the interruption to reset at least a portion of the service unit.
3 more elements
A method for resetting remote resources for synchronization with a controller, comprising:
- providing a clock signal from a control unit to a remote service unit, the control unit operable to convert between parallel signals and serialized signals;
- in response to a reset event, interrupting the clock signal to the remote service unit for at least a defined period of time;
- and
- at the remote service unit, in response to interruption of the clock signal for the defined period of time, resetting at least a portion of the service unit.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.