Fast link training in embedded systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9645959-B2
Application number	US-201514598325-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2015
Priority date	Jan 16, 2015
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

Abstract

Fast link training in embedded systems is disclosed. In one aspect, a host takes advantage of situations in which the host is coupled to one or more static devices through a communication bus. In particular, because the one or more devices are static, the host may be provided with information about the one or more devices before start up, so that when the host does perform a start up, the host already knows which device(s) to expect. Accordingly, the host may directly query the expected device(s), and after receipt of response(s) from the expected device(s), may begin link training the expected device(s). By using the provided information about the expected device(s) in this fashion, the host may bypass or skip an initial signal detection step used by conventional link training processes. Bypassing the initial signal detection step may save time, which in turn saves power.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of link detection for a communication bus, comprising:
providing an indication to a host which links are expected;
based on the indication, testing expected links;
receiving at least a response from a device associated with at least one expected link; and
training the device associated with the at least one expected link.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the indication to the host comprises providing the indication to a control system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the indication to the host comprises providing the indication to a root complex within the host.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the root complex complies with a peripheral component interface (PCI) express (PCIe) standard.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the indication comprises providing the indication through software.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the indication comprises providing the indication through a lookup table.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the indication comprises providing the indication with hardware.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein providing the indication comprises providing the indication through one or more fuses.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the indication comprises providing the indication at power up.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the indication comprises providing the indication at a reset.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating an error condition if one of the expected links fails to respond.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising skipping signal detection for the expected links.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein testing the expected links comprises performing receiver detection on all the expected links without waiting for signal detection on the expected links.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing receiver detection for links other than the expected links.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising repeating receiver detection for links other than the expected links.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising training other devices associated with the links other than the expected links.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one expected link comprises a plurality of lanes.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the indication to the host comprises providing the indication to one or more of:
a control system; and
a root complex within the host;
wherein providing the indication comprises providing the indication through one or more techniques selected from the group consisting of: software, a lookup table, hardware, a printed circuit board (PCB) configuration), a general purpose input output (GPIO) setting, and one or more fuses.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the indication comprises providing the indication at power up and at subsequent resets.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the indication comprises learning a configuration at an initial power up and providing the indication at subsequent resets.

21. A host comprising:
a bus interface configured to be connected to a communication bus; and
a control system operatively coupled to the bus interface, the control system configured to:
receive an indication which links for the communication bus are expected;
based on the indication, test expected links across the communication bus;
receive at least a response from a device associated with at least one expected link; and
train the device associated with the at least one expected link.

22. The host of claim 21 , further comprising a memory element associated with the control system, the memory element comprising software to provide the indication.

23. The host of claim 21 , further comprising a memory element associated with the control system, the memory element comprising a lookup table to provide the indication.

24. The host of claim 21 , wherein the bus interface is configured to couple to a peripheral component interface (PCI) express (PCIe) communication bus.

25. The host of claim 21 , further comprising one or more fuses associated with the control system to provide the indication.

26. The host of claim 21 , wherein the control system is configured to receive the indication at power up.

27. The host of claim 21 , wherein the control system is configured to receive the indication at a reset.

28. The host of claim 21 , wherein the control system is configured to generate an error condition if one of the expected links fails to respond.

29. The host of claim 21 , wherein the control system is further configured to skip signal detection for the expected links.

30. The host of claim 21 , wherein the control system is configured to test the expected links by performing receiver detection on all the expected links without waiting for signal detection on the expected links.

31. The host of claim 21 integrated into an integrated circuit (IC).

32. The host of claim 21 integrated into a device selected from the group consisting of: a set top box; an entertainment unit; a navigation device; a communication device; a fixed location data unit; a mobile location data unit; a mobile phone; a cellular phone; a computer; a portable computer; a desktop computer; a personal digital assistant (PDA);
a monitor; a computer monitor; a television; a tuner; a radio; a satellite radio; a music player; a digital music player; a portable music player; a digital video player; a video player; a digital video disc (DVD) player; and a portable digital video player.

33. A computing system comprising:
a communication bus;
a plurality of devices, each device comprising a device bus interface connected to the communication bus; and
a host comprising:
a bus interface connected to the communication bus; and
a control system operatively coupled to the bus interface, the control system configured to:
receive an indication which links for the communication bus are expected to exist for respective ones of the plurality of devices;
based on the indication, test expected links across the communication bus;
receive at least a response from a device associated with at least one expected link; and
train the device associated with the at least one expected link.

34. The computing system of claim 33 , wherein the communication bus comprises a peripheral component interface (PCI) express (PCIe) communication bus.

35. The computing system of claim 33 integrated into an automobile.

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc
• Qulacomm Incorporated

Inventors

• Achlaug Nabeel
• Gerber Nir
• Kolor Sergio
• Vardi Dan

Classifications

• G06F13/4291

  using a clocked protocol · CPC title

• G06F13/385 Primary

  for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices · CPC title

• G06F13/4295

  using an embedded synchronisation · CPC title

• Y02B60/1235

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y02B60/1228

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic