Systems and methods for interfacing asynchronous and non-asynchronous data media

• US 20030099254A1
• Filed: 10/22/2002
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Surgient Networks, Inc. (Quest Software, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Surgient Networks, Inc. (Quest Software, Inc.)
• Inventors: Richter, Roger K.
• Application Number:
  US10/277,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20030099254A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10015 Access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. using brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/10 Streamlined, light-weight or high-speed protocols, e.g. express transfer protocol [XTP] or byte stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Systems and methods for interfacing asynchronous and non-asynchronous data media, such as for interfacing an asynchronous computing I/O bus medium with a non-asynchronous T/N medium. The disclosed systems and methods may be implemented, for example, in a manner that allows conversion or transformation of information in asynchronous-compliant form to information in non-asynchronous-compliant form in real time.

Claims

1. An A/N data media interface configured to communicatively couple at least one asynchronous data medium to at least one non-asynchronous data medium.

2. The A/N data media interface of claim 1, wherein said A/N data media interface is configured to:

receive first information in asynchronous form from said at least one asynchronous data medium;

transform said first information from asynchronous form to non-asynchronous form;

transmit said first information in non-asynchronous form to said non-asynchronous data medium;

receive second information in non-asynchronous form from said at least one non-asynchronous data medium device;

transform said second information from non-asynchronous form to asynchronous form; and

transmit said second information in asynchronous form to said at least one asynchronous data medium.

3. The A/N data media interface of claim 2, further comprising:

an asynchronous communication engine configured to be coupled to said at least one asynchronous data medium; and

a non-asynchronous communication engine coupled to said asynchronous communication engine, said non-asynchronous communication engine being configured to be coupled to said at least one non-asynchronous data medium;

wherein said asynchronous communication engine is configured to receive said first information in asynchronous form from said at least one asynchronous data medium, and wherein said non-asynchronous communication engine is configured to transmit said first information in non-asynchronous form to said non-asynchronous data medium;

wherein said non-asynchronous communication engine is configured to receive said second information in non-asynchronous form from said at least one non-asynchronous data medium device, and wherein said asynchronous communication engine is configured to transmit said second information in asynchronous form to said at least one asynchronous data medium;

wherein said A/N data media interface is configured to transform said first information from asynchronous form to non-asynchronous form after said first information is received by said asynchronous communication engine from said asynchronous data medium and before said first information is transmitted by said non-asynchronous communication engine to said non-asynchronous data medium; and

wherein said A/N data media interface is configured to transform said second information from non-asynchronous form to asynchronous form after said second information is received by said non-asynchronous communication engine from said non-asynchronous data medium and before said first information is transmitted by said asynchronous communication engine to said asynchronous data medium.

4. The A/N data media interface of claim 2, wherein said non-asynchronous data medium comprises a distributed interconnect.

5. The A/N data media interface of claim 2, wherein said A/N data media interface is configured to control information flow and to adapt information rate.

6. The A/N data media interface of claim 2, wherein said A/N data media interface comprises a switch fabric interface;

wherein said non-asynchronous data medium comprises a switch fabric; and

wherein said asynchronous data medium comprises a computing I/O bus medium.

7. The A/N data media interface of claim 6, wherein said asynchronous data medium comprises a PCI-type bus medium.

8. The A/N data media interface of claim 2, wherein said non-asynchronous data medium comprises a T/N medium;

and wherein said asynchronous data medium comprises a computing I/O bus medium.

9. The A/N data media interface of claim 3, wherein said A/N data media interface further comprises an information transformation engine coupled between said asynchronous communication engine and said non-asynchronous communication engine, said information transformation engine configured to:

receive said first information in asynchronous form from said asynchronous communication engine;

transform said first information from asynchronous form to non-asynchronous form;

transmit said transformed first information in non-asynchronous form to said a non-asynchronous communication engine;

receive said second information in non-asynchronous form from said non-asynchronous communication engine;

transform said second information from non-asynchronous form to asynchronous form; and

transmit said transformed second information in asynchronous form to said a non-asynchronous communication engine.

10. The A/N data media interface of claim 9, wherein said information transformation engine comprises a segmentation and reassembly engine.

11. The A/N data media interface of claim 6, wherein said A/N data media interface is configured to transform said first information from asynchronous form to non-asynchronous form in a manner that allows selective implementation of one or more capabilities of said non-asynchronous data medium on a real time basis.

12. The A/N data media interface of claim 6, wherein said A/N data media interface is configured to transform said first information from asynchronous form to non-asynchronous form in a manner that allows selective implementation of one or more differentiated service capabilities of said non-asynchronous data medium on a real time basis.

13. The A/N data media interface of claim 11, wherein said first information is transmitted in PDU form, and wherein said A/N data media interface is configured to selectively implement said one or more capabilities of said non-asynchronous data medium on a real time basis by using instructional information contained in at least one PDU of said first information.

14. The A/N data media interface of claim 6, wherein said A/N data media interface is configured to present at least one standardized interface to said at least one asynchronous data medium.

15. An information management system, comprising:

a first processing engine;

a first asynchronous data medium coupled to said first processing engine;

a non-asynchronous data medium, said non-asynchronous data medium comprising a distributed interconnect; and

a first A/N data media interface communicatively coupled between said first asynchronous data medium and said non-asynchronous data medium.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said first A/N data media interface is configured to:

receive first information in asynchronous form from said first processing engine across said first asynchronous data medium;

transform said first information from asynchronous form to non-asynchronous form;

transmit said first information in non-asynchronous form to said non-asynchronous data medium;

receive second information in non-asynchronous form from said non-asynchronous data medium device;

transform said second information from non-asynchronous form to asynchronous form; and

transmit said second information in asynchronous form to said first processing engine across said first asynchronous data medium.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said system further comprises:

a second processing engine;

a second asynchronous data medium coupled to said second processing engine; and

a second A/N data media interface communicatively coupled between said second asynchronous data medium and said non-asynchronous data medium, said second A/N data media interface being configured to;

receive said first information in non-asynchronous form from said non-asynchronous data medium device;

transform said first information from non-asynchronous form to asynchronous form;

transmit said first information in asynchronous form to said second processing engine across said second asynchronous data medium;

receive said second information in asynchronous form from said second processing engine across said second asynchronous data medium;

transform said second information from asynchronous form to non-asynchronous form; and

transmit said second information in non-asynchronous form to said non-asynchronous data medium.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said first and second A/N data media interfaces are each configured to control information flow and to adapt information rate.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said first and second A/N data media interfaces each comprise a switch fabric interface;

wherein said non-asynchronous data medium comprises a switch fabric; and

wherein said first and second asynchronous data media each comprise a computing I/O bus medium.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said asynchronous data medium comprises a PCI-type bus medium.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein each of said first and second A/N data media interfaces is configured to transform said at least one of said respective first or second information from asynchronous form to non-asynchronous form in a manner that allows selective implementation of one or more capabilities of said non-asynchronous data medium on a real time basis.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein each of said first and second A/N data media interfaces is configured to transform said respective first or second information from asynchronous form to non-asynchronous form in a manner that allows selective implementation of one or more differentiated service capabilities of said non-asynchronous data medium on a real time basis.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein each of said first and second information is transmitted in PDU form, and wherein each of said first and second A/N data media interfaces is configured to selectively implement said one or more capabilities of said non-asynchronous data medium on a real time basis by using instructional information contained in at least one PDU of said respective first or second information.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein at least one of said first or second A/N data media interfaces is configured to present at least one standardized interface to at least one of said respective first or second asynchronous data medium.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein said information management system comprises a network connectable information management system;

and wherein each of said first and second processing engines is assigned separate information manipulation tasks in an asymmetrical multi-processor configuration.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said information management system comprises a content delivery system.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said separate information manipulation tasks assigned to each of said first and second processing engines comprises information manipulation tasks performed by at least one of an application processing engine, a transport processing engine, a storage management processing engine, a network interface processing engine, a system management engine, or a combination thereof.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein said information management system further comprises:

a plurality of processing engines that includes said first and second processing engines, each of said processing engines being coupled to a respective asynchronous data medium;

a respective A/N data media interface communicatively coupled between said non-asynchronous data medium and each of said respective asynchronous data medium that is coupled to each of said plurality of processing engines; and

wherein said plurality of processing engines comprise at least one application processing engine, at least one transport processing engine, at least one storage management processing engine, at least one network interface processing engine, and at least one system management processing engine.

29. A method of interfacing at least one asynchronous data medium with at least one non-asynchronous data medium, comprising:

receiving first information in asynchronous form from said at least one asynchronous data medium;

transforming said first information from asynchronous form to non-asynchronous form;

transmitting said first information in non-asynchronous form to said non-asynchronous data medium;

receiving second information in non-asynchronous form from said at least one non-asynchronous data medium device;

transforming said second information from non-asynchronous form to asynchronous form; and

transmitting said second information in asynchronous form to said at least one asynchronous data medium.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising controlling information flow and adapting information rate.

31. The method claim 29, wherein said non-asynchronous data medium comprises a distributed interconnect.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

providing an A/N data media interface, said A/N data media interface being configured to perform each of said steps of receiving, transforming and transmitting each of said first and second information;

communicatively coupling said at least one asynchronous data medium to said at least one non-asynchronous data medium using said A/N data media interface; and

performing said steps of receiving, transforming and transmitting each of said first and second information using said A/N data media interface.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said non-asynchronous data medium comprises a switch fabric;

and wherein said asynchronous data medium comprises a computing I/O bus medium.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said asynchronous data medium comprises a PCI-type bus medium.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein said wherein said non-asynchronous data medium comprises a T/N medium;

and wherein said asynchronous data medium comprises a computing I/O bus medium.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein said transforming of said first information from asynchronous form to non-asynchronous form comprises staging said first information received in asynchronous form from said at least one asynchronous data medium for non-asynchronous transmittal;

and wherein said transforming of said second information from non-asynchronous form to asynchronous form comprises staging said second information received in non-asynchronous form from said at least one non-asynchronous data medium for asynchronous transmittal.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising using a first clock domain to receive said first information in asynchronous form from said at least one asynchronous data medium, and to transmit said second information. in asynchronous form to said at least one asynchronous data medium;

and using a second clock domain to receive said second information in non-asynchronous form from said at least one non-asynchronous data medium device, and to transmit said first information in non-asynchronous form to said non-asynchronous data medium;

wherein said first clock domain is independent from said second clock domain.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising controlling flow of at least one of said first or second information by communicating flow control information with said non-asynchronous data medium;

arbitrating for communication opportunities across an asynchronous interface to said asynchronous data medium; and

communicating a status of said arbitration to said non-asynchronous data medium.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising using segmentation and reassembly protocol to transform said first information from asynchronous form to non-asynchronous form, and to transform said second information from non-asynchronous form to asynchronous form.

40. The method of claim 33, further comprising transforming said first information from asynchronous form to non-asynchronous form to allow selective implementation of one or more capabilities of said non- asynchronous data medium on a real time basis.

41. The method of claim 33, further comprising transforming said first information from asynchronous form to non-asynchronous form to allow selective implementation of one or more differentiated service capabilities of said non-asynchronous data medium on a real time basis.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising selectively implementing said one or more capabilities of said non-asynchronous data medium on a real time basis by using instructional information contained in at least one PDU of said first information.

43. The method of claim 33, further comprising presenting at least one standardized interface to said at least one asynchronous data medium.

44. A method of interfacing a first processing engine of an information management system with at least one non-asynchronous data medium, comprising:

receiving first information in asynchronous form from said first processing engine across at least one asynchronous data medium;

transforming said first information from asynchronous form to non-asynchronous form;

transmitting said first information in non-asynchronous form to said non-asynchronous data medium;

receiving second information in non-asynchronous form from said non-asynchronous data medium device;

transforming said second information from non-asynchronous form to asynchronous form; and

transmitting said second information in asynchronous form to said first processing engine across said first asynchronous data medium.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

receiving said first information in non-asynchronous form from said non-asynchronous data medium device;

transforming said first information from non-asynchronous form to asynchronous form;

transmitting said first information in asynchronous form to said second processing engine across said second asynchronous data medium;

receiving said second information in asynchronous form from said second processing engine across said second asynchronous data medium;

transforming said second information from asynchronous form to non-asynchronous form; and

transmitting said second information in non-asynchronous form to said non-asynchronous data medium.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising controlling flow and adapting rate of said first and second information.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein said non-asynchronous data medium comprises a switch fabric;

and wherein said first and second asynchronous data media each comprise a computing I/O bus medium.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said asynchronous data medium comprises a PCI-type bus medium.

49. The method of claim 47, further comprising transforming at least one of said respective first or second information from asynchronous form to non-asynchronous form to allow selective implementation of one or more capabilities of said non-asynchronous data medium on a real time basis.

50. The method of claim 47, further comprising transforming at least one of said respective first or second information from asynchronous form to non-asynchronous form in a manner to allow selective implementation of one or more differentiated service capabilities of said non-asynchronous data medium on a real time basis.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein each of said first and second information is transmitted in PDU form;

and wherein said method further comprises selectively implementing said one or more capabilities of said non-asynchronous data medium on a real time basis using instructional information contained in at least one PDU of said respective first or second information.

52. The method of claim 47, wherein said method further comprises presenting at least one standardized interface to at least one of said respective first or second asynchronous data medium.

53. The method of claim 47, wherein said information management system comprises a network connectable information management system;

and wherein each of said first and second processing engines is assigned separate information manipulation tasks in an asymmetrical multi-processor configuration.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said information management system comprises a content delivery system.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein said separate information manipulation tasks assigned to each of said first and second processing engines comprises information manipulation tasks performed by at least one of an application processing engine, a transport processing engine, a storage management processing engine, a network interface processing engine, a system management engine, or a combination thereof.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein said information management system further comprises a plurality of processing engines that includes said first and second processing engines, each of said processing engines being coupled to a respective asynchronous data medium;

and wherein said plurality of processing engines comprise at least one application processing engine, at least one transport processing engine, at least one storage management processing engine, at least one network interface processing engine, and at least one system management processing engine.

57. A switch fabric interface configured to couple a switch fabric with a PCI bus interface, comprising:

a UTOPIA/UDASL engine configured to be coupled to said switch fabric;

a PCI engine configured to be coupled to said PCI bus interface;

a SAR Master/Target logic coupled to said PCI engine;

a SAR Tx logic coupled between said UTOPIA/UDASL engine and said SAR Master Target; and

a SAR Rx logic coupled between said UTOPIA/UDASL engine and said SAR Master Target.

58. The switch fabric interface of claim 57, further comprising a UTOPIA PCI control interface coupled between said UTOPIA/UDASL engine and said PCI engine.

59. The switch fabric interface of claim 58, wherein said UTOPIA/UDASL engine comprises u_Tx logic coupled to said SAR Tx logic, u_Rx logic coupled to said SAR Rx logic, and u_If logic coupled to said Utopia PCI control interface;

and wherein said PCI engine comprises PCI config logic coupled to said SAR Master/Target logic, and PCI state machine logic coupled to SAR Master/Target logic.

60. The switch fabric interface of claim 59, wherein said switch fabric interface comprises an FPGA.