Abstract: Techniques, systems and apparatus are described for implementing an inter-channel ring interface in a communication device. A communication device can include communication channels to carry data at respective first data throughputs. An inter-channel ring interface connects at least some of the communication channels in a ring configuration to form an aggregated group of channels that operates as a single channel at a second data throughput.

Abstract: Techniques, systems and apparatus are described for implementing an inter-channel ring interface in a communication device. A communication device can include communication channels to carry data at respective first data throughputs. An inter-channel ring interface connects at least some of the communication channels in a ring configuration to form an aggregated group of channels that operates as a single channel at a second data throughput.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the invention for seamless port bypass controller operations for storage systems, for example, and may comprise a first port of a port bypass controller that receives an input signal and at least one of a plurality of selectors that selects at least a second port coupled in a chain to the first port. At least one of the selectors may switch at least a portion of the received input signal from the first port to at least the second port without initializing or reconfiguring the second port. A repeater may repeat at least a portion of the received input signal to the second port without initializing or reconfiguring the second port. A retimer may generate a retimed signal corresponding to at least a portion of the received input signal to the second port without initializing or reconfiguring the second port.

Abstract: A search engine selects initial coefficients for a receive equalizer. The search engine may be incorporated into a communication receiver that includes a decision feedback equalizer and clock and data recovery circuit. Here, the search engine may initialize various adaptation loops that may control the operation of, for example, a decision feedback equalizer, a clock and data recovery circuit and a continuous time filter. The receiver may include an analog-to-digital converter that is used to generate soft decision data for some of the adaptation loops.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and system for handling data in port bypass controllers for storage systems and may comprise receiving a data stream from a receive port bypass controller's port and buffering at least a portion of the received data stream in at least one EFIFO buffer integrated within the port bypass controller. A data rate or frequency of the received data stream may be changed by inserting at least one extended fill word in the buffered portion of the received data stream or by deleting at least one fill word from the received data stream buffered in the EFIFO buffer. The extended fill word may comprise a loop initialization primitive (LIP), a loop port bypass (LPB), a loop port enable (LPE), a not operation state (NOS), an offline state (OLS), a link reset response (LRR) and/or a link reset (LR).

Abstract: A system is presented that monitors the quality of a communications channel with mirror receivers. A first receiver and a second receiver, coupled in parallel with the first receiver, receive a data signal transmitted over the communications channel. The second receiver generates an output signal. A signal integrity (SI) processor manipulates the output signal in order to determine the quality of the communications channel. The SI processor samples a phase-shifted version of the output signal, which has a phase shifted relative to a zero reference phase, and analyzes the phase-shifted version of the output signal for bit errors. In an embodiment, the SI processor manipulates the output signal to extract an eye diagram indicative of the quality of the communications channel. The SI processor non-intrusively determines the quality of the communications channel using the second receiver.

Abstract: A search engine selects initial coefficients for a receive equalizer. The search engine may be incorporated into a communication receiver that includes a decision feedback equalizer and clock and data recovery circuit. Here, the search engine may initialize various adaptation loops that may control the operation of, for example, a decision feedback equalizer, a clock and data recovery circuit and a continuous time filter. The receiver may include an analog-to-digital converter that is used to generate soft decision data for some of the adaptation loops.

Abstract: A search engine selects initial coefficients for a receive equalizer. The search engine may be incorporated into a communication receiver that includes a decision feedback equalizer and clock and data recovery circuit. Here, the search engine may initialize various adaptation loops that may control the operation of, for example, a decision feedback equalizer, a clock and data recovery circuit and a continuous time filter. The receiver may include an analog-to-digital converter that is used to generate soft decision data for some of the adaptation loops.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and system for operating ports in port bypass controllers through LIPf7 origination detection and LIPf8 suppression, which may be utilized, for example, in storage systems. Aspects of the method may comprise receiving a data stream at a receive port Rx(n) of a port bypass controller, where n is an integer indexing a port in the port bypass controller. LIPf8 primitives in the received data stream may be suppressed at the receive port Rx(n) and LIPf7 primitives inserted in place of at least a portion of the suppressed LIPf8 primitives.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the method may comprise receiving via a first port of the port bypass controller, a data stream comprising at least one known bit pattern. Upon locking onto at least a portion of the known bit pattern in the received data stream, a bit error rate may be generated based on a bit-by-bit comparison of at least a portion of the data stream received after locking occurs. At least a portion of the data stream may be compared with a corresponding portion of expected data. The bit error rate may be calculated based on results from comparing at least a portion of the data stream with a corresponding portion of the expected data. The known bit pattern may be internally generated within the port bypass controller or it may be externally generated by a host system.

Abstract: A system is presented that monitors the quality of a communications channel with mirror receivers. A first receiver and a second receiver, coupled in parallel with the first receiver, receive a data signal transmitted over the communications channel. The second receiver generates an output signal. A signal integrity (SI) processor manipulates the output signal in order to determine the quality of the communications channel. The SI processor samples a phase-shifted version of the output signal, which has a phase shifted relative to a zero reference phase, and analyzes the phase-shifted version of the output signal for bit errors. In an embodiment, the SI processor manipulates the output signal to extract an eye diagram indicative of the quality of the communications channel. The SI processor non-intrusively determines the quality of the communications channel using the second receiver.

Abstract: A method is presented that monitors the quality of a communications channel. The method includes receiving a data signal and establishing a zero reference phase of the received data signal. The method further includes generating a phase-shifted data signal by phase shifting the received data signal relative to the zero reference phase, and sampling the phase-shifted data signal for one or more phase-shift positions. A zero reference phase is reestablished between sampling at each of the phase-shift positions. The method also includes detecting bit errors in the phase-shifted data signal at each of the phase-shift positions in order to provide a communications channel quality measurement. In an embodiment, the method includes generating an eye diagram according to a count of detected bit errors relative to a count of detected bits. The eye diagram characterizes the quality of the communications channel.

Abstract: A system is presented that monitors the quality of a communications channel with mirror receivers. A first receiver and a second receiver, coupled in parallel with the first receiver, receive a data signal transmitted over the communications channel. The second receiver generates an output signal. A signal integrity (SI) processor manipulates the output signal in order to determine the quality of the communications channel. The SI processor samples a phase-shifted version of the output signal, which has a phase shifted relative to a zero reference phase, and analyzes the phase-shifted version of the output signal for bit errors. In an embodiment, the SI processor manipulates the output signal to extract an eye diagram indicative of the quality of the communications channel. The SI processor non-intrusively determines the quality of the communications channel using the second receiver.

Abstract: A communication receiver includes a decision feedback equalizer and clock and data recovery circuit. Various adaptation loops may control the operation of the decision feedback equalizer, the clock and data recovery circuit, a continuous time filter, a threshold adjust circuit, and an analog-to-digital clock that is used to generate soft decision data for some of the adaptation loops.

Abstract: A search engine selects initial coefficients for a receive equalizer. The search engine may be incorporated into a communication receiver that includes a decision feedback equalizer and clock and data recovery circuit. Here, the search engine may initialize various adaptation loops that may control the operation of, for example, a decision feedback equalizer, a clock and data recovery circuit and a continuous time filter. The receiver may include an analog-to-digital converter that is used to generate soft decision data for some of the adaptation loops.

Abstract: A method is presented that monitors the quality of a communications channel. The method includes receiving a data signal and establishing a zero reference phase of the received data signal. The method further includes generating a phase-shifted data signal by phase shifting the received data signal relative to the zero reference phase, and sampling the phase-shifted data signal for one or more phase-shift positions. A zero reference phase is reestablished between sampling at each of the phase-shift positions. The method also includes detecting bit errors in the phase-shifted data signal at each of the phase-shift positions in order to provide a communications channel quality measurement. In an embodiment, the method includes generating an eye diagram according to a count of detected bit errors relative to a count of detected bits. The eye diagram characterizes the quality of the communications channel.

Abstract: A system is presented that monitors the quality of a communications channel with mirror receivers. A first receiver and a second receiver, coupled in parallel with the first receiver, receive a data signal transmitted over the communications channel. The second receiver generates an output signal. A signal integrity (SI) processor manipulates the output signal in order to determine the quality of the communications channel. The SI processor samples a phase-shifted version of the output signal, which has a phase shifted relative to a zero reference phase, and analyzes the phase-shifted version of the output signal for bit errors. In an embodiment, the SI processor manipulates the output signal to extract an eye diagram indicative of the quality of the communications channel. The SI processor non-intrusively determines the quality of the communications channel using the second receiver.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the method may comprise receiving via a first port of the port bypass controller, a data stream comprising at least one known bit pattern. Upon locking onto at least a portion of the known bit pattern in the received data stream, a bit error rate may be generated based on a bit-by-bit comparison of at least a portion of the data stream received after locking occurs. At least a portion of the data stream may be compared with a corresponding portion of expected data. The bit error rate may be calculated based on results from comparing at least a portion of the data stream with a corresponding portion of the expected data. The known bit pattern may be internally generated within the port bypass controller or it may be externally generated by a host system.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and system for operating ports in port bypass controllers through LIPf7 origination detection and LIPf8 suppression, which may be utilized, for example, in storage systems. Aspects of the method may comprise receiving a data stream at a receive port Rx(n) of a port bypass controller, where n is an integer indexing a port in the port bypass controller. LIPf8 primitives in the received data stream may be suppressed at the receive port Rx(n) and LIPf7 primitives inserted in place of at least a portion of the suppressed LIPf8 primitives.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and system for handling data in port bypass controllers for storage systems and may comprise receiving a data stream from a receive port bypass controller's port and buffering at least a portion of the received data stream in at least one EFIFO buffer integrated within the port bypass controller. A data rate or frequency of the received data stream may be changed by inserting at least one extended fill word in the buffered portion of the received data stream or by deleting at least one fill word from the received data stream buffered in the EFIFO buffer. The extended fill word may comprise a loop initialization primitive (LIP), a loop port bypass (LPB), a loop port enable (LPE), a not operation state (NOS), an offline state (OLS), a link reset response (LRR) and/or a link reset (LR).