Broadband I/O circuits, interface and bus
First Claim
1. A method of implementing a digital communications link connecting a digital controller section of an XDSL modem, located on a system motherboard of a computing system, to a separate analog section of the xDSL modem, located at a position which is substantially free of electronic noise from other electronic components on said motherboard which could significantly affect the overall operation of such said XDSL modem, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a plurality of receive signal lines for communicating data from a remote xDSL modem;
(b) providing a plurality of transmit signal lines for communicating data to a remote xDSL modem;
(c) providing a bit clock signal line for carrying a clock signal, which clock signal is used in connection with communicating said data to and from said remote XDSL modem;
(d) providing a word clock signal to mark the boundary for a sample word received or transmitted on said plurality of receive signal lines and plurality of transmit signal lines.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A digital communications link and protocol is disclosed in connection with a digital controller section and an analog CODEC section of an xDSL modem mounted on a computer motherboard. The xDSL modem is configured on the motherboard with the digital and analog sections separated so as to improve noise performance in the analog front end sections. The digital communications link is characterized by an improved architecture which includes optimally selected data signal lines, an embedded control channel, a flexible data clocking mechanism, capability for providing multiple data channels, and a preselected operational and/or control word format. These features allow a computer motherboard fitted with the digital communications link to be easily adaptable and usable with a number of different combinations of digital and analog circuits associated with xDSL modems.
16 Citations
66 Claims
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1. A method of implementing a digital communications link connecting a digital controller section of an XDSL modem, located on a system motherboard of a computing system, to a separate analog section of the xDSL modem, located at a position which is substantially free of electronic noise from other electronic components on said motherboard which could significantly affect the overall operation of such said XDSL modem, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a plurality of receive signal lines for communicating data from a remote xDSL modem;
(b) providing a plurality of transmit signal lines for communicating data to a remote xDSL modem;
(c) providing a bit clock signal line for carrying a clock signal, which clock signal is used in connection with communicating said data to and from said remote XDSL modem;
(d) providing a word clock signal to mark the boundary for a sample word received or transmitted on said plurality of receive signal lines and plurality of transmit signal lines. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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15. The method of 14, wherein an embedded operation channel (EOC) is used to control proper operations of the hardware or DSP based xDSL modem.
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17. A communications protocol for transmitting data on an xDSL digital communications link between a digital controller and an analog codec located within a personal computer system, said protocol comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating an xDSL bit clock and a separate xDSL word clock adapted for data transmission requirements of said analog xDSL codec;
(b) communicating data words between the digital controller and analog codec at a rate corresponding to said xDSL bit clock;
(c) communicating operational and/or control information embedded within said data words during said word clock period;
wherein both operational and/or control information and data can be simultaneously exchanged between the digital controller and the analog codec.
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27. A communications protocol for transmitting data on an xDSL digital communications link between a digital controller and a plurality of analog codecs occupying a plurality of respective data channels within a personal computer system, said protocol comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating an xDSL bit clock and a separate XDSL word clock adapted for data transmission requirements of the plurality of analog xDSL codecs;
(b) communicating data words between the digital controller and the plurality of analog codecs during said xDSL word clock;
(c) grouping multiple data words in a data frame to support the plurality of data channels and/or different accumulated data rates between transmit and receive directions for one or more of the plurality of analog codecs.
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32. A method of implementing a digital communications link within a personal computer system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a plurality of receive signal lines, said receive signal lines being configurable such that data can be received by a digital controller from an analog codec and/or a hardware or DSP based XDSL modem with an ATM interface;
(b) providing a plurality of transmit signal lines, said transmit signal lines being configurable such that data can be transmitted by a digital controller to an analog codec and/or a hardware or DSP based xDSL modem with an ATM interface;
(c) providing a clock signal line, said clock signal line carrying a clock signal adapted for data transfers associated with an analog codec and/or a hardware or DSP based xDSL modem with an ATM interface;
(d) providing a data transfer protocol such that data transfers over said digital communications link can include conventional xDSL codec samples and/or ATM cell data. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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37. A digital controller for use with an xDSL capable modem comprising:
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[i] means for processing xDSL formatted data and control signals; and
[ii] means for generating control signals associated with maintaining an xDSL compatible data link; and
[iii] a digital interface for coupling the digital controller to an analog codec associated with said xDSL compatible modem and, said digital interface being configured such that;
[i] a plurality of receive lines can be used for receiving XDSL data; and
[ii] a plurality of transmit lines can be used for transmitting xDSL data;
[iii] a bit clock signal line can be used for carrying a bit clock signal adapted for an xDSL compatible data link; and
[iv] a word clock signal can be used for clocking xDSL data words; and
[v] an embedded control channel is provided so that said control signals can be passed between said digital controller and said analog codec sections of said xDSL capable modem using said plurality of receiving lines and/or said plurality of transmitting lines; and
wherein said digital controller is adapted to be physically placed on a computer motherboard.
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42. An analog codec for use with an xDSL capable modem comprising:
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[i] line interface circuitry for coupling to a data channel carrying analog data signals corresponding to xDSL formatted data and control signals; and
[ii] circuitry for performing A/D and D/A operations on said analog data signals and xDSL formatted data and control signals respectively; and
[iii] a digital interface for interfacing to a digital controller located on a computer motherboard, said digital interface being configured such that;
[i] XDSL data signals are received using a first plurality of receiving lines; and
[ii] XDSL data signals are transmitted using a second plurality of transmitting lines; and
[iii] a bit clock signal adapted for an xDSL compatible link can be used by the digital interface; and
[iv] a word clock signal can be used for clocking xDSL data words; and
[v] an embedded control channel for passing control information between said digital controller and said analog codec sections of said xDSL capable modem can be implemented using either or both said plurality of receiving and/or transmit lines; and
wherein said codec is adapted to be physically separated from said digital controller, and placed at a position which is substantially free of electronic noise from other electronic components on said motherboard which could materially affect the operation of such CODEC. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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47. An xDSL compatible modem comprising:
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(A) a digital controller, said digital controller being adapted so that it can be placed physically on a computer motherboard and further including;
[i] means for processing XDSL formatted data and control signals; and
(B) an analog codec, said analog codec being adapted to be physically separated from said digital controller at a distance sufficient to be substantially free of electronic noise generated by said motherboard, said analog codec further including;
[i] line interface circuitry for coupling to a data channel carrying analog data signals corresponding to said xDSL formatted data and control signals; and
[ii] circuitry for performing A/D and DIA operations on said analog data signals and xDSL formatted data and control signals respectively; and
(C) a digital interface for coupling said digital controller and analog codec, said digital interface including;
[i] a plurality of xDSL data receiving lines; and
[ii]a plurality of xDSL data transmitting lines; and
[iii] a bit clock signal and a word clock signal adapted for an xDSL compatible link; and
[iv] means for providing a control channel data in said XDSL compatible link between said digital controller and said analog codec sections of said xDSL modem
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61. In a motherboard for use in a personal computing system, and which system is configured to treat a high speed xDSL capable modem as a motherboard device, the improvement comprising:
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(A) a digital controller associated with the high speed modem, said digital controller being located physically on the motherboard and including;
[i] circuitry for processing XDSL formatted data and control signals; and
(B) an analog front end circuit associated with the high speed modem, said analog front end circuit being electrically coupled but physically separated from said digital controller, said analog front end circuit including;
[i] line interface circuitry for coupling to a data channel carrying analog data signals corresponding to said XDSL formatted data and control signals; and
[ii] circuitry for performing A/D and D/A operations on said analog data signals and xDSL formatted data and control signals respectively; and
(C) a digital interface for coupling said digital controller and analog front end circuit, said digital interface including;
[i] a plurality of xDSL data receiving lines; and
[ii]a plurality of xDSL data transmitting lines; and
[iii] a clock signal adapted for an xDSL compatible link; and
[iv] an embedded control channel data in said xDSL compatible link;
wherein said digital interface supports an xDSL compatible data link between said digital controller and said analog front end circuit. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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Specification