Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes device functional circuitry to perform at least one service; and network interface control circuitry to control interaction between the apparatus and a network. The network interface control circuitry includes a service discovery module to (1) send a presence announcement message to be transmitted outside the device to let other devices outside the device know of services the device may perform and (2) to receive presence announcement messages from the other devices outside the device to learn what services to the other devices may perform. In some embodiments, the network interface control circuitry includes a dynamic connection management module. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and system for ensuring that data is only distributed within a certain physical area are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method provides that data is distributed only if the distance between a source and a sink is within a distance threshold. Under this system, the distance between the source and the sink may be estimated directly or indirectly. In some embodiments, the distance may be estimated by estimating the propagation delay for a signal traversing between the devices. The physical distance between the devices may be determined from the propagation delay. If the physical distance is outside a threshold value, the source may be prohibited from transmitting the data or the sink may refuse to display the data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to discovery of electronic devices in a combined network. An embodiment of a method includes determining an identifier for a first device in a combined network according to a first network protocol, the combined network including a first network using the first network protocol and a second network using a second network protocol, where the identifier is determined based on a unique designation for the first device, and determining addressing information for the first device according to the second network protocol, where determining the addressing information includes establishing a physical address and a logical address for the first device. The method further includes broadcasting one or more messages containing identification information and capabilities of the first device to devices in the first network and to devices in the second network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for data stream control for network devices. Some embodiments of an apparatus include a receiver to receive a token for a command associated with a stream of data, where the command is one of multiple command types. The token has a fixed size and format, and the token is provided in a field of a data packet. The apparatus further includes a network unit to determine the type of command based on the token, to parse a set of fields in the data packet for command data, and implement the command.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a multi-view display system. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a display screen to display multiple views simultaneously, and a controller to control the views presented on the display screen. The apparatus is configurable by the controller to provide multiple view settings, the view settings including a first setting in which the apparatus provides a single view to each viewer of the display screen and a second setting in which the apparatus provides a first view to a first viewer of the display screen and a second view to a second viewer of the display screen. A first filtering element filters views presented to viewers of the display screen such that an intended view is displayed to one or more viewers.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for detecting errors in a physical interface during the transmission or receipt of data communications between integrated circuits (“ICs”) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a physical interface formed as a first IC on a first substrate portion to detect transmission errors in data exchanged with a second IC formed on a second substrate portion, the physical interface including multiple input ports and output ports, including a first subset of input ports configured to receive in-bound encoded data bits and a first subset of output ports configured to transmit in-bound decoded data bits to the second IC; and one or more error recovery modules coupled between the plurality of input ports and output ports, where a first error recovery module of the one or more error recovery modules is coupled between at least one of the first subset of input ports and at least one of the first subset of output ports.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for group power management of network devices. Some embodiments of an apparatus include a power management module, where the power management module is to transition the apparatus from a normal state to a low power state. The apparatus includes a wake module having a processor that remains active in the low power state, and a register to store a group address. The apparatus includes a network interface that is monitored by the processor in the low power state, where the processor detects a data packet identifying the group address at the network interface, and where the power management module returns the apparatus to the normal state upon detection of the data packet.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for detecting errors in a physical interface during the transmission or receipt of data communications between integrated circuits (“ICs”) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a physical interface formed as a first IC on a first substrate portion to detect transmission errors in data exchanged with a second IC formed on a second substrate portion, the physical interface including multiple input ports and output ports, including a first subset of input ports configured to receive in-bound encoded data bits and a first subset of output ports configured to transmit in-bound decoded data bits to the second IC; and one or more error recovery modules coupled between the plurality of input ports and output ports, where a first error recovery module of the one or more error recovery modules is coupled between at least one of the first subset of input ports and at least one of the first subset of output ports.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing related data streams in interconnection networks. Some embodiments of an apparatus include a transmitter to transmit a data stream to a second apparatus, where the transmitter transmits a data packet to the second apparatus. The apparatus further includes a clock, with the apparatus providing a first timestamp for the data packet using the clock upon transmission of the data packet. The apparatus includes a receiver to receive responses from the second apparatus, with the apparatus providing a second timestamp upon receiving a returned packet from the second apparatus, with the returned packet containing timestamps for the receipt and transmission of the packet by the second apparatus. The apparatus includes a network unit to direct the operation of the apparatus, the network unit to determine a start time for decoding of the data stream by the second apparatus based at least in part on the timestamps for the packet.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for detecting errors in a physical interface during the transmission and/or receipt of data communications between integrated circuits (“ICs”) are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for generating error-detection codes in a physical interface for the transmission of data communications between integrated circuits (“ICs”) includes an N-bit-to-N+2-bit (“N bit/(N+2) bit”) physical layer (“PHY”) encoder configured to insert a physical interface error detection bit with N application data bits to form N+1 unencoded data bits, and encode said N+1 unencoded data bits to yield N+2 encoded data bits. The apparatus further includes an error-detection code generator configured to generate a number of bits constituting an error-detection code that includes said physical interface error detection bit, wherein N represents any integer number of data bits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packet level prioritization in interconnection networks. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a transmitter to transmit a data stream to a recipient apparatus, the data stream including a plurality of data packets, the data packets including data packets of a first priority and data packets of a second priority. The apparatus further includes a network unit to direct the operation of the transmitter, the network unit to divide the data stream into multiple sub-streams, including a first sub-stream for data packets of the first priority and a second sub-stream for data packets of the second priority.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bandwidth reservation for data flows in interconnection networks. Some embodiments of an apparatus for transmitting a data stream include a transmitter to transmit a data stream to a recipient apparatus, the data stream including a plurality of data packets. The apparatus further includes a receiver to receive a response from the recipient apparatus regarding data packet arrival status, and a network unit to direct the operation of the transmitter, the network unit to direct the transmitter to maintain the data stream with a constant bandwidth.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for detecting errors in a physical interface during the transmission and/or receipt of data communications between integrated circuits (“ICs”) are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for generating error-detection codes in a physical interface for the transmission of data communications between integrated circuits (“ICs”) includes an N bit-to-N+2 (“N bit/N+2”) bit physical layer (“PHY”) encoder configured to insert a physical interface error detection bit with N application data bits to form N+1 unencoded data bits, and encode said N+1 unencoded data bits to yield N+2 encoded data bits. The apparatus further includes an error-detection code generator configured to generate a number of bits constituting an error-detection code that includes said physical interface error detection bit, wherein N represents any integer number of data bits.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for detecting errors in a physical interface during the transmission and/or receipt of data communications between integrated circuits (“ICs”) are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus is configured to operate as or within a receiving physical interface. The apparatus includes a decoder configured to decode a subset of encoded data bits to yield decoded data bits. It also includes a physical interface (“PI”) error detection bit extractor configured to extract a physical interface error detection bit from the decoded data bits. As such, the apparatus uses the physical interface error detection bit to determine whether the encoded data bits include at least one erroneous data bit as an error. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes an error detector configured to operate within a physical layer. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus efficiently transmits error detection codes within, for example, an NB/(N+1)B line coder.

Abstract: Disclosed are communication apparatus, a SATA communication device, a system, an enhanced port multiplier and a method for, among other things, establishing a covert communication channel in a protocol-compliant link. In one embodiment, a communication apparatus includes a link interface and a supplemental message interface. The link interface is configured to communicatively couple the communication apparatus to the link for accessing a data stream passing through the link in accordance with a standardized protocol. The supplemental message interface is configured to exchange a supplemental message within the data stream to establish a covert communication channel in the link. The supplemental message supplements the standardized protocol without violating the protocol.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for group power management of network devices. Some embodiments of an apparatus include a power management module, where the power management module is to transition the apparatus from a normal state to a low power state. The apparatus includes a wake module having a processor that remains active in the low power state, and a register to store a group address. The apparatus includes a network interface that is monitored by the processor in the low power state, where the processor detects a data packet identifying the group address at the network interface, and where the power management module returns the apparatus to the normal state upon detection of the data packet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing related data streams in interconnection networks. Some embodiments of an apparatus include a transmitter to transmit a data stream to a second apparatus, where the transmitter transmits a data packet to the second apparatus. The apparatus further includes a clock, with the apparatus providing a first timestamp for the data packet using the clock upon transmission of the data packet. The apparatus includes a receiver to receive responses from the second apparatus, with the apparatus providing a second timestamp upon receiving a returned packet from the second apparatus, with the returned packet containing timestamps for the receipt and transmission of the packet by the second apparatus. The apparatus includes a network unit to direct the operation of the apparatus, the network unit to determine a start time for decoding of the data stream by the second apparatus based at least in part on the timestamps for the packet.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes device functional circuitry to perform at least one service; and network interface control circuitry to control interaction between the apparatus and a network. The network interface control circuitry includes a service discovery module to (1) send a presence announcement message to be transmitted outside the device to let other devices outside the device know of services the device may perform and (2) to receive presence announcement messages from the other devices outside the device to learn what services to the other devices may perform. In some embodiments, the network interface control circuitry includes a dynamic connection management module. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and system for ensuring that data is only distributed within a certain physical area are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method provides that data is distributed only if the distance between a source and a sink is within a distance threshold. Under this system, the distance between the source and the sink may be estimated directly or indirectly. In some embodiments, the distance may be estimated by estimating the propagation delay for a signal traversing between the devices. The physical distance between the devices may be determined from the propagation delay. If the physical distance is outside a threshold value, the source may be prohibited from transmitting the data or the sink may refuse to display the data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a network repository for metadata. Embodiments of a data repository include a memory to store data including one or more data content items, where each data content item is associated with zero or more metadata items, and where each data content item is associated with a handle and each metadata item is associated with an attribute name. The data repository further includes a network interface configured to communicate with a client device, and a control unit configured to control the storage of data in the memory, where the control unit provides functions for writing data to and reading data from the memory and where the control unit is to transfer the data without interpretation.