Abstract: Described is an apparatus comprising a first interface, a second interface, a third interface, and an interconnection fabric. The first interface may transfer a first stream of data traffic. The second interface, which may be an enhanced Serial Peripheral Interface (eSPI) interface, may transfer a second stream of data traffic and a third stream of data traffic. The third interface may transfer a fourth stream of data traffic. The interconnection fabric may couple the first interface to the second interface and may couple the second interface to the third interface. The second interface may initiate a transfer of an outbound data stream from one of the second stream of data traffic or the third stream of data traffic based on an available-space credit indicator. The second interface may receive an inbound data stream based upon the outbound data stream.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods relating to an enhanced serial peripheral interface (eSPI) port expander circuitry are described. In an embodiment, an apparatus includes an upstream eSPI port, a plurality of downstream eSPI ports, and an eSPI aggregator. The upstream eSPI port is to operate as an eSPI slave on an upstream eSPI bus. Each of the plurality of downstream eSPI ports is to operate as an eSPI master on a corresponding one of a plurality of downstream eSPI buses. The eSPI aggregator is to forward or broadcast transactions from the upstream eSPI bus to one or more of the plurality of downstream eSPI buses and to aggregate responses from one or more of the downstream eSPI buses.

Abstract: Method and apparatus associated with clocking synchronization are disclosed herein. In various embodiment, a method for communication comprises: entering a clock training period, on successful performance of clock training handshake; entering a start static phase measurement (SSPM) sequence of clock training period, receiving a recovered clock; and processing the recovered clock to determine parts-per-million (PPM) differences, to be subsequently applied to compensate for the PPM differences determined during subsequent clocking synchronization. Linking training is performed after the subsequent clocking synchronization. In various embodiments, clocking synchronization comprises SSC synchronization. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments include a serial bus controller that may be coupled to an in band serial peripheral interface (SPI) link, to request a write of data and a subsequent read of the data from a memory device and in response to the request to read the data, receive a bit error report and optionally correct the bit error over the in band SPI link. Embodiments include a memory device, e.g., a flash memory device, to detect and report the bit error over the in band SPI link, where the flash memory device, in response to a request to write and/or erase data, calculates or determines an error correction code (ECC) and stores corresponding parity data. In embodiments, after receiving a subsequent request to read the data, the flash memory device accesses the stored parity data to check the ECC for a bit error and if a bit error is detected, reports the detected bit error over the in band SPI link. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a flash sharing controller is to enable a plurality of components of a platform to share a flash memory. The flash sharing controller may include: a flash sharing class layer including a configuration controller to configure the plurality of components to be flash master devices and configure a flash sharing slave device for the flash memory; and a physical layer coupled to the flash sharing class layer to communicate with the plurality of components via a bus. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses may provide for technology that includes a system on chip (SoC) having a root of trust and an embedded controller to conduct functional safety operations and non-functional safety operations with respect to the SoC. The technology may also include an enhanced serial peripheral interface (eSPI) coupled to the SoC and the embedded controller, wherein the eSPI is to tunnel communications associated with the functional safety operations between the embedded controller and the root of trust.

Abstract: A first signal may be received from a memory device at a first interconnect terminal of a number of interconnect terminals via a serial communication interface that indicates the memory device includes a NAND type memory device. Whether a second signal that indicates the NAND type memory device is initialized has been received from the memory device at a second interconnect terminal of the number of interconnect terminals may be determined. An operation associated with the NAND type memory device may be performed at the second interconnect terminal and a third interconnect terminal in response to determining the second signal has been received from the memory device indicating the NAND type memory device is initialized.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes: an interface controller to receive a request from an external device coupled to the apparatus to access a flash memory coupled to the apparatus, the request comprising an access request to a replay protection monotonic counter (RPMC) of the flash memory; and a flash controller coupled to the interface controller. In turn, the flash controller includes: an atomic sequencer to arbitrate accesses to the RPMC by a plurality of components; and a mapper to map the access request to a selected counter of the RPMC associated with the external device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a host controller includes: a first credit tracker comprising at least one credit counter to maintain credit information for a first device; and a first credit handler to send a command code having a first predetermined value to indicate a credit request to request credit information from the first device, where the first credit tracker is to update the at least one credit counter based on receipt of an in-band interrupt from the first device having the credit information. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus associated with clocking synchronization are disclosed herein. In various embodiment, a method for communication comprises: entering a clock training period, on successful performance of clock training handshake; entering a start static phase measurement (SSPM) sequence of clock training period, receiving a recovered clock; and processing the recovered clock to determine parts-per-million (PPM) differences, to be subsequently applied to compensate for the PPM differences determined during subsequent clocking synchronization. Linking training is performed after the subsequent clocking synchronization. In various embodiments, clocking synchronization comprises SSC synchronization. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments include a serial bus controller that may be coupled to an in band serial peripheral interface (SPI) link, to request a write of data and a subsequent read of the data from a slave device and in response to the request to read the data, receive a bit error report and optionally correct the bit error over the in band SPI link. Embodiments include a slave device, e.g., a flash memory device, to detect and report the bit error over the in band SPI link, where the flash memory device, in response to a request to write and/or erase data, calculates or determines an error correction code (ECC) and stores corresponding parity data. In embodiments, after receiving a subsequent request to read the data, the flash memory device accesses the stored parity data to check the ECC for a bit error and if a bit error is detected, reports the detected bit error over the in band SPI link. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a flash sharing controller is to enable a plurality of components of a platform to share a flash memory. The flash sharing controller may include: a flash sharing class layer including a configuration controller to configure the plurality of components to be flash master devices and configure a flash sharing slave device for the flash memory; and a physical layer coupled to the flash sharing class layer to communicate with the plurality of components via a bus. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses may provide for technology that includes a system on chip (SoC) having a root of trust and an embedded controller to conduct functional safety operations and non-functional safety operations with respect to the SoC. The technology may also include an enhanced serial peripheral interface (eSPI) coupled to the SoC and the embedded controller, wherein the eSPI is to tunnel communications associated with the functional safety operations between the embedded controller and the root of trust.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus comprising a first interface, a second interface, a third interface, and an interconnection fabric. The first interface may transfer a first stream of data traffic. The second interface, which may be an enhanced Serial Peripheral Interface (eSPI) interface, may transfer a second stream of data traffic and a third stream of data traffic. The third interface may transfer a fourth stream of data traffic. The interconnection fabric may couple the first interface to the second interface and may couple the second interface to the third interface. The second interface may initiate a transfer of an outbound data stream from one of the second stream of data traffic or the third stream of data traffic based on an available-space credit indicator. The second interface may receive an inbound data stream based upon the outbound data stream.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes: an interface controller to receive a request from an external device coupled to the apparatus to access a flash memory coupled to the apparatus, the request comprising an access request to a replay protection monotonic counter (RPMC) of the flash memory; and a flash controller coupled to the interface controller. In turn, the flash controller includes: an atomic sequencer to arbitrate accesses to the RPMC by a plurality of components; and a mapper to map the access request to a selected counter of the RPMC associated with the external device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods relating to an enhanced serial peripheral interface (eSPI) port expander circuitry are described. In an embodiment, an apparatus includes an upstream eSPI port, a plurality of downstream eSPI ports, and an eSPI aggregator. The upstream eSPI port is to operate as an eSPI slave on an upstream eSPI bus. Each of the plurality of downstream eSPI ports is to operate as an eSPI master on a corresponding one of a plurality of downstream eSPI buses. The eSPI aggregator is to forward or broadcast transactions from the upstream eSPI bus to one or more of the plurality of downstream eSPI buses and to aggregate responses from one or more of the downstream eSPI buses.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a host controller includes: a first credit tracker comprising at least one credit counter to maintain credit information for a first device; and a first credit handler to send a command code having a first predetermined value to indicate a credit request to request credit information from the first device, where the first credit tracker is to update the at least one credit counter based on receipt of an in-band interrupt from the first device having the credit information. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to functional safety clocking framework for real time systems are described. In an embodiment, clock monitoring logic circuitry monitors a plurality of clock signals. Safety island logic circuitry receives an error status signal from the clock monitoring logic circuitry based at least in part on a determination of whether an error exists for at least one of the plurality of clock signals. Safety logic circuitry to receive an interrupt signal from the safety island logic circuitry in response to a determination that the error status signal indicates existence of an error for at least one of the plurality of clock signals. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A first signal may be received from a memory device at a first interconnect terminal of a number of interconnect terminals via a serial communication interface that indicates the memory device includes a NAND type memory device. Whether a second signal that indicates the NAND type memory device is initialized has been received from the memory device at a second interconnect terminal of the number of interconnect terminals may be determined. An operation associated with the NAND type memory device may be performed at the second interconnect terminal and a third interconnect terminal in response to determining the second signal has been received from the memory device indicating the NAND type memory device is initialized.

Abstract: Systems and methods may provide for securely transferring data from a flash component. In one example, the method may include receiving a download request from an embedded controller chip, obtaining information from the flash component in response to the download request, and transferring the information to the embedded controller chip.