Abstract: In one embodiment, a differential amplifier is provided. Gates of a first differential pair of transistors, of a first conductivity type, and a second pair or transistors, of a second conductivity type are coupled to first and second input terminals of the differential amplifier. A first pair of adjustable current sources are configured to adjust respective tail currents of the first differential pair of transistors in response to a first bias current control signal. A second pair of adjustable current sources are configured to adjust respective tail currents of the second differential pair of transistors in response to the first bias current control signal. A third pair of adjustable current sources are configured to adjust respective currents through the second differential pair of transistors in response to a second bias current control signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device having a link training state machine including a reconfiguration logic to perform a dynamic link reconfiguration of a physical link coupled between the device and a second device during a run-time in which the physical link does not enter a link down state, including transmission of a plurality of bandwidth change requests to the second device, each of the plurality of bandwidth change requests to request a bandwidth change from a first bandwidth to a second bandwidth. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe a host system capable of associating a PCIe device and another separate device to the same device identifier (e.g., device number). A cycle routing module or logic will identify an I/O transaction involving the device identifier, and route the transaction to one or both of the devices (or, in some instances, identify the I/O transaction as a configuration transaction, and simply update the cycle routing module/logic only). In one embodiment of the invention, a root port of the host system is configured to operate as the above described cycle router. Embodiments of the invention allow for devices to be “merged” into a single device for the host OS. For example, a peripheral devices coupled to the host system via a PCIe link may be “merged” with a peripheral devices coupled to the host system via another PCIe link or a SATA link.

Abstract: A method and system for error logging that is independent of the clock frequency ratio in an I/O subsystem. In one embodiment of the invention, the I/O subsystem has an error logging mechanism with a fixed queue depth of two and is independent of the clock frequencies in the I/O subsystem. The I/O subsystem has two queue entries for storing or logging the uncorrectable errors. In one embodiment of the invention, the I/O subsystem has two queue entries for storing or logging the 128-bit TLP Header and the First Error Pointer (FEP) of the uncorrectable errors detected in the I/O subsystem.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, there are provided methods, systems, and apparatuses for enabling an agent interfacing with a pipelined backbone to locally handle transactions while obeying an ordering rule including, for example, receiving a transaction which requests access to a backbone; decoding routing destination information from the transaction received, in which the decoded routing destination information designates the transaction to be processed either locally or processed via the backbone; storing the decoded routing destination information and the transaction into a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) buffer; retrieving the decoded routing destination information and the transaction from the FIFO buffer; and processing the transaction locally or via the backbone based on the decoded routing destination information retrieved from the FIFO buffer with the transaction.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for handling transactions received after a configuration request, the method, for example, comprising: receiving a configuration change request by a transaction-handling logic block; performing a configuration change by the transaction-handling logic block in response to the configuration change request, wherein the logic block is to handle transactions received prior to receipt of the configuration change request differently than transactions received after receipt of the configuration change request; receiving, by the transaction-handling logic block, a first transaction before receiving the configuration change request; receiving, by the transaction-handling logic block, a second transaction after receiving the configuration change request and before the configuration change is complete; differentiating the first transaction from the second transaction based on the order in which the first and second transactions were received relative to receipt of the configuration chang

Abstract: Component apparatuses with inter-component communication capabilities, and system having such component apparatuses are disclosed. A component may include a number of control pins including a clock pin, a number of data pins, and a logic unit. The logic unit may be configured to receive a clock signal from another component through the clock pin, to provide an alert signal to the other component through a selected one of the control and data pins to initiate a transaction with the other component, to receive in response to the alert signal from the other component through the data pins a status request to determine nature of the transaction, and to provide in response to the status request to the other component through the data pins a status to indicate the nature of the transaction. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.

Abstract: Secure execution of workflow tasks are executed according to a given execution pattern in a decentralized workflow system with a central workflow engine and multiple task execution agents. The method starts at an i'th execution agent which is selected by at least one preceding execution agent in accord with the execution pattern to perform an i'th task of the workflow. The method includes receiving, from the at least one preceding execution agent via a secure channel, a task-based private key generated by the at least one preceding execution agent, signing workflow information of the workflow for at least one subsequent execution agent with a workflow signature, selecting at least one appropriate subsequent execution agent, computing a task-based private key for the at least one subsequent execution agent, and forwarding to the at least one subsequent execution agent the workflow information with its associated workflow signature.

Abstract: A method and system to improve the power management for an I/O subsystem. In one embodiment of the invention, the power management of an upstream port of the I/O subsystem is improved by increasing the upstream link utilization when the upstream port is an active power state and by increasing or prolonging the power saving period of the upstream port when the upstream port is in a low power state.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe a host system capable of associating a PCIe device and another separate device to the same device identifier (e.g., device number). A cycle routing module or logic will identify an I/O transaction involving the device identifier, and route the transaction to one or both of the devices (or, in some instances, identify the I/O transaction as a configuration transaction, and simply update the cycle routing module/logic only). In one embodiment of the invention, a root port of the host system is configured to operate as the above described cycle router. Embodiments of the invention allow for devices to be “merged” into a single device for the host OS. For example, a peripheral devices coupled to the host system via a PCIe link may be “merged” with a peripheral devices coupled to the host system via another PCIe link or a SATA link.

Abstract: Optical receivers and a method for providing a diagnostic measurement of optical modulation amplitude at other than a signal output of an optical receiver are invented and disclosed. The method includes the steps of applying a representation of an output of an optical detector to a circuit that determines a difference between a first signal level and a second signal level that is different from the first signal level and buffering the difference between the first signal level and the second signal level received from the circuit. The optical receivers include an optical detector, a transimpedance amplifier that applies automatic gain control, a circuit that determines a difference between two signal values and a limiting post amplifier. The receivers provide a diagnostic measure that can be compared to certain thresholds relating to known bit error rates or applied in a calculation to generate an absolute optical modulation amplitude value.

Abstract: Method, system and computer program for exchanging data between a client computer and a storage device are described, in which the storage device may send a long-term DH-component to an intermediate server. The client computer may send a first short-term DH-component to the storage device through the intermediate server that adds a communication expiration time. The storage device may send a second short-term DH-component to the client computer. The client computer and the storage device may calculate a symmetric key from the long-term component and from both short-term DH-components to exchange data and may delete the short-term DH-components upon reaching the expiration time.

Abstract: Secure execution of workflow tasks are executed according to a given execution pattern in a decentralized workflow system with a central workflow engine and multiple task execution agents. The method starts at an i'th execution agent which is selected by at least one preceding execution agent in accord with the execution pattern to perform an i'th task of the workflow. The method includes receiving, from the at least one preceding execution agent via a secure channel, a task-based private key generated by the at least one preceding execution agent, signing workflow information of the workflow for at least one subsequent execution agent with a workflow signature, selecting at least one appropriate subsequent execution agent, computing a task-based private key for the at least one subsequent execution agent, and forwarding to the at least one subsequent execution agent the workflow information with its associated workflow signature.

Abstract: Optical receivers and a method for providing a diagnostic measurement of optical modulation amplitude at other than a signal output of an optical receiver are invented and disclosed. The method includes the steps of applying a representation of an output of an optical detector to a circuit that determines a difference between a first signal level and a second signal level that is different from the first signal level and buffering the difference between the first signal level and the second signal level received from the circuit. The optical receivers include an optical detector, a transimpedance amplifier that applies automatic gain control, a circuit that determines a difference between two signal values and a limiting post amplifier. The receivers provide a diagnostic measure that can be compared to certain thresholds relating to known bit error rates or applied in a calculation to generate an absolute optical modulation amplitude value.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an electronic system includes a processor, a memory in communication with the processor, a bus in communication with the processor, an Express Card controller coupled to the bus, the Express Card controller providing an interface to an external device, a USB3 controller coupled to the bus and in communication with the Express Card controller, and a PCIE controller coupled to the bus and in communication with the Express Card controller. The Express Card controller may be configured to determine whether the external device is a USB3 device or a PCIE device and to switch between the USB3 controller and the PCIE controller based on the state of a USB3 select pin strap. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Optical receivers and a method for providing a diagnostic measurement of optical modulation amplitude at other than a signal output of an optical receiver are invented and disclosed. The method includes the steps of applying a representation of an output of an optical detector to a circuit that determines a difference between a first signal level and a second signal level that is different from the first signal level and buffering the difference between the first signal level and the second signal level received from the circuit. The optical receivers include an optical detector, a transimpedance amplifier that applies automatic gain control, a circuit that determines a difference between two signal values and a limiting post amplifier. The receivers provide a diagnostic measure that can be compared to certain thresholds relating to known bit error rates or applied in a calculation to generate an absolute optical modulation amplitude value.

Abstract: A fiber optic transceiver (FOT) module is provided that has a circuit board attached to the FOT leadframe. The circuit board, which is typically a printed circuit board (PCB), provides several advantages over typical FOT module designs in that it provides additional surface area for mounting additional components, enables components to be moved from the motherboard into the module, allows the I/O pin count of the FOT module to be increased without increasing the width or footprint associated with the module, allows bond wires to be shortened, provides improved performance over changes in temperature, allows manufacturing yield to be improved, and enables improvements in signal integrity to be realized.

Abstract: A small form factor pluggable (SFP) optical transceiver module and method for performing optical communications are provided. The SFP optical transceiver module has a housing to which a duplex receptacle is secured. The duplex receptacle has a C-shaped opening, the upper and lower portions of which are defined by upper and lower flexible retaining elements for receiving and retaining a duplex optical connector therein. An electrical assembly of the module is secured within the transceiver module housing. The electrical assembly comprises a PCB, the back end of which is configured as a plug end for removably plugging the PCB into a receptacle of an external communications management system.

Abstract: A small form factor pluggable (SFP) optical transceiver module and method for performing optical communications are provided. The SFP optical transceiver module has a housing to which a duplex receptacle is secured. The duplex receptacle has a C-shaped opening, the upper and lower portions of which are defined by upper and lower flexible retaining elements for receiving and retaining a duplex optical connector therein. An electrical assembly of the module is secured within the transceiver module housing. The electrical assembly comprises a PCB, the back end of which is configured as a plug end for removably plugging the PCB into a receptacle of an external communications management system.

Abstract: Method, system and computer program for exchanging data between a client computer and a storage device are described, in which the storage device may send a long-term DH-component to an intermediate server. The client computer may send a first short-term DH-component to the storage device through the intermediate server that adds a communication expiration time. The storage device may send a second short-term DH-component to the client computer. The client computer and the storage device may calculate a symmetric key from the long-term component and from both short-term DH-components to exchange data and may delete the short-term DH-components upon reaching the expiration time.