Interconnect retimer enhancements
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- control logic to;
generate a test mode signal to include a test pattern and an error reporting sequence; and
transmitter logic to;
send the test mode signal on a serial, point-to-point link implemented on a physical transmission medium, wherein the link couples a first device to a second device, the link is compliant with a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe)-based interconnect protocol, and the link is to comprise a retimer device and two sublinks coupled to the retimer, wherein the retimer is positioned between the first and second devices on the link, the test mode signal is to be sent on a particular one of the two sublinks, the test pattern is to be used by a receiving device to identify errors on the particular sublink, and the error reporting sequence comprises an ordered set based on the PCIe-based protocol and is to be encoded with error information to describe error status of sublinks in the two sublinks.
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Abstract
A test mode signal is generated to include a test pattern and an error reporting sequence. The test mode signal is sent on link that includes one or more extension devices and two or more sublinks. The test mode signal is to be sent on a particular one of the sublinks and is to be used by a receiving device to identify errors on the particular sublink. The error reporting sequence is to be encoded with error information to describe error status of sublinks in the plurality of sublinks.
12 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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control logic to; generate a test mode signal to include a test pattern and an error reporting sequence; and transmitter logic to; send the test mode signal on a serial, point-to-point link implemented on a physical transmission medium, wherein the link couples a first device to a second device, the link is compliant with a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe)-based interconnect protocol, and the link is to comprise a retimer device and two sublinks coupled to the retimer, wherein the retimer is positioned between the first and second devices on the link, the test mode signal is to be sent on a particular one of the two sublinks, the test pattern is to be used by a receiving device to identify errors on the particular sublink, and the error reporting sequence comprises an ordered set based on the PCIe-based protocol and is to be encoded with error information to describe error status of sublinks in the two sublinks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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identifying that a serial, point-to-point link is to enter a test mode, wherein the link connects a first device to a second device and is implemented on a physical transmission medium, the link is compliant with a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe)-based protocol, and the link comprises a retimer device positioned between the first and second devices on the link and two or more sublinks to couple the first and second devices to the retimer device, wherein the retimer device extends physical length of the link; generating a test mode signal, wherein the test mode signal includes a test pattern and an error reporting sequence and the error reporting sequence is to be encoded with error information to describe error status of sublinks in the plurality of sublinks, wherein the error reporting sequence comprises an ordered set based on the PCIe-based protocol; and sending the test mode signal within the test mode on a particular one of the sublinks.
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18. A system comprising:
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a first device; a second device communicatively coupled to the first device using a serial, point-to-point link, wherein the link comprises a plurality of physical lanes and is compliant with a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe)-based interconnect protocol; a retimer device included on the link, wherein the retimer device is positioned between the first and second devices on the link, and data is sent between the first and second devices on the link over the retimer device; and test mode logic to; send test mode signals within a test mode of the link, wherein the link comprises a plurality of sublinks connected to the retimer, each instance of the test mode signal corresponds to a test of a respective one of the sublinks and includes a test pattern and an error reporting sequence, the test pattern is to be used by a device receiving the test mode signal to identify errors on the corresponding sublink, and the error reporting sequence comprises an ordered set based on the PCIe-based protocol and is to be encoded with error information to describe error status determined for the sublinks. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification