Pass-through information transfers in serial communications between a device and a host
AssigneeWestern Digital Technologies, Inc.
InventorJohn C. Masiewicz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device communicatively coupled to a host in a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) format. The device includes a processor to control operations in the device and a serial interface to control serial communication in accordance with the SATA format with the host. The serial interface during the transmission of primitives in a pass-through phase, inserts pass-through information to the host within or outside of a Frame Information Structure (FIS). If the host is not pass-through enabled, the host ignores the pass-through information. However, if the host is pass-through enabled, the host recognizes the pass-through information.
Claims25
A device communicatively coupled to a host in a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) format, the device comprising:
- a processor to control operations in the device;
- and
- a serial interface to control serial communication in accordance with the SATA format with the host, including:
- entering into a first state in response to a first primitive from the host;
- transmitting a second primitive to the host to indicate the first state;
- transmitting at least one fill character to the host, wherein the fill character continues to indicate the first state;
- after determining to transmit more fill characters, replacing at least one fill character with pass-through information prior to receiving a third primitive from the host, wherein the third primitive indicates a state chance;
- transmitting the pass-through information to the host;
- receiving the third primitive from the host;
- entering into a second state in response to the third primitive;
- and
- transmitting a fourth primitive to the host to indicate the second state.
A host communicatively coupled to a device in a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) format, the host comprising:
- a processor to control operations in the host;
- and
- a serial interface to control serial communication in accordance with the SATA format with the device, including:
- entering into a first state in response to a first primitive from the device;
- transmitting a second primitive to the device to indicate the first state;
- transmitting at least one fill character to the device, wherein the fill character continues to indicate the first state;
- after determining to transmit more fill characters replacing at least one fill character with pass-through information prior to receiving a third primitive from the device, wherein the third primitive indicates a state chance;
- transmitting the pass-through information to the device;
- receiving the third primitive from the device;
- entering into a second state in response to the third primitive;
- and
- transmitting a fourth primitive to the device to indicate the second state.
A method for a device to communicate with a host in a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) format, the method comprising:
- entering into a first state in response to a first primitive from the host;
- transmitting a second primitive to the host to indicate the first state;
- transmitting at least one fill character to the host, wherein the fill character continues to indicate the first state;
- after determining to transmit more fill characters, replacing at least one fill character with pass-through information prior to receiving a third primitive from the host, wherein the third primitive indicates a state change,
- transmitting the pass-through information to the host;
- receiving the third primitive from the host;
- entering into a second state in response to the third primitive;
- and
- transmitting a fourth primitive to the host to indicate the second state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.