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US 7,925,954 B2Granted
Techniques for entering a low-power link state
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsShaun M. Conrad, Robert J. Safranek, Selim Bilgin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques to cause a point-to-point link between system components to engage in a negotiation process that may lead to the link transitioning from an active state in which data may be transmitted between system components to a low power state where data may not be transmitted. The negotiation process may occur between each pair of nodes within an electronic system that are interconnected via point-to-point link. The negotiation may ensure that there are no pending transactions or transactions that may occur within an upcoming period of time. Through this negotiation each component acknowledges and agrees to transition the link to the low power state.
Claims18
An apparatus comprising:
- a first physical point-to-point link within an electronic system;
- a first component within the electronic system coupled with a first end of the first point-to-point link, the first component to transmit a first request over the first point-to-point link to initiate transition of the first point-to-point link from an active state to a low power state;
- a second component within the electronic system coupled with a second end of the first point-to-point link, the second component, in response to the request, to selectively allow or disallow the transition of the first point-to-point link from the active state to the low power state;
- a second physical point-to-point link within the electronic system having a first end coupled with the first component, the first component to transmit a second request over the second point-to-point link to initiate transition of the second point-to-point link from an active state to a low power state;
- and
- a third component within the electronic system coupled with a second end of the second point-to-point link, the third component, in response to the second request, to selectively allow or disallow the transition of the second point-to-point link from the active state to the low power state;
- wherein the first physical point-to-point link and the second point-to-point link are in different power states.
4 more elements
A system comprising:
- a first physical point-to-point link within an electronic system;
- a first component within the electronic system coupled with a first end of the first point-to-point link, the first component to transmit a first request over the first point-to-point link to initiate transition of the first point-to-point link from an active state to a low power state;
- a second component within the electronic system coupled with a second end of the first point-to-point link, the second component, in response to the request, to selectively allow or disallow the transition of the first point-to-point link from the active state to the low power state;
- a second physical point-to-point link within the electronic system having a first end coupled with the first component, the first component to transmit a second request over the second point-to-point link to initiate transition of the second point-to-point link from an active state to a low power state;
- a third component within the electronic system coupled with a second end of the second point-to-point link, the third component, in response to the second request, to selectively allow or disallow the transition of the second point-to-point link from the active state to the low power state;
- and
- a dynamic random access memory coupled with the second component;
- wherein the first physical point-to-point link and the second point-to-point link are in different power states.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- transmitting a request message from a master component of an electronic system to a first slave component of the electronic system over a first physical point-to-point link, the request to initiate transition of the first point-to-point link from an active state to a low power state;
- receiving a response message from the first slave component with the master component, the response message being either an acknowledge (ACK) message to allow transition from the active state to the low power state or a negative acknowledge (NACK) message to disallow transition from the active state to the low power state;
- causing the first point-to-point link to transition to the low power state in response to receiving the ACK message from the slave device;
- transmitting a request message from a master component of an electronic system to a second slave component of the electronic system over a second physical point-to-point link, the request to initiate transition of the second point-to-point link from an active state to a low power state;
- receiving a response message from the second slave component with the master component, the response message being either an acknowledge (ACK) message to allow transition from the active state to the low power state or a negative acknowledge (NACK) message to disallow transition from the active state to the low power state;
- and
- causing the second point-to-point link to transition to the low power state in response to receiving the ACK message from the slave device.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving, with a first slave component within an electronic system, a first request message from a master component within the electronic system over a first point-to-point link, the first request to initiate transition of the first point-to-point link from an active state to a low power state;
- determining whether to respond to the first request message with an acknowledge (ACK) message to allow transition from the active state to the low power state or to respond to the request with a negative acknowledge (NACK) message to disallow transition from the active state to the low power state;
- transmitting either the ACK message or the NACK message to the master component over the first point-to-point link
- receiving, with a second slave component within an electronic system, a second request message from the master component within the electronic system over a second point-to-point link, the request to initiate transition of the second point-to-point link from an active state to a low power state;
- determining whether to respond to the second request message with an acknowledge (ACK) message to allow transition from the active state to the low power state or to respond to the second request message with a negative acknowledge (NACK) message to disallow transition from the active state to the low power state;
- and
- transmitting either the ACK message or the NACK message to the master component over the second point-to-point link.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.