CHANGING HARDWARE SETTINGS BASED ON DATA PREAMBLE

• US 20090238576A1
• Filed: 09/08/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: UFFMANN, Dirk, SCHORPP, Marcus, MULLER, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 8,170,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/141
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/4902 Pulse width modulation; Pulse position modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention provides a new and unique method and apparatus for a new data speed switching scheme for a wired data interface. The method features receiving high-speed serial data over a physical link using a first coding scheme in a receiver; receiving a transmission mode change signal transmitted with sequential information about a change in a data transmission mode of the receiver using a second coding scheme and switching the data transmission mode of the receiver in response thereto. The data transmission modes may include at least one low-power mode where no data transmission is possible and the receiver is powered down. The at least one low-power mode may include two different power down states, each having different wake-up times. The data transmission modes may also include at least one high speed mode where data transmission is possible and the receiver is on. The at least one high speed mode may include several high speed modes, each having different data transmission rates.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving high-speed serial data over a physical link using a first coding scheme in a receiver;

receiving a transmission mode change signal transmitted with sequential information about a change in a data transmission mode of the receiver using a second coding scheme; and

switching the data transmission mode of the receiver in response thereto.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the data transmission modes include at least one low-power mode where no data transmission is possible and the receiver is powered down.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one low-power mode includes two different power down states, each having different wake-up times.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the data transmission modes include at least one high speed mode where data transmission is possible and the receiver is on.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the at least one high speed mode includes several high speed modes, each having different data transmission rates.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first coding scheme is a non-return-to-zero coding scheme and/or the second coding scheme is a return-to-zero coding scheme.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the change in the data transmission mode depends on a sequence transmitted in transmission mode change signals.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises coupling the receiver to an optical receiver that forms part of an optical link.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the method comprises decoding the transmission mode change signal with the optical receiver.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the change includes one or more of the following transitions:

changing from a RESET state to a STOP state;

changing from the STOP state to a high speed state if the logical line state goes to a pre-defined logical value, e.g. ‘

1’

;

or

the HS state to the STOP or RESET state when the logical value, e.g. a logical ‘

0’

or ‘

1’

signal, is longer than a specified time.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the target state indicated by the transmission mode change signal is stored.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the specified time is defined to be longer than a maximum run length of a used line coding.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein hardware settings are changed based on the information contained in the transmission mode change signal.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the transmission mode change signal is transmitted with a pulse width modulation signal.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the hardware settings includes a setting for adjusting the sensitivity of the receiver.

16. A method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one low-power mode includes a stop state that is an intermediate power saving mode which can be entered from and exited to one or more of several high speed modes.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the stop state can be entered from and exited to the one or more of several high speed modes without the transmission mode change signal.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the stop state can be entered from and exited to the one or more of several high speed modes by the receiver by observing the line state.

52. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises implementing the step of the method via a computer program running in one or more modules in the receiver.

19. A system comprising:

a transmitter having one or more modules configured for providing high-speed serial data over a physical link using a first coding scheme, and for providing a transmission mode change signal transmitted with sequential information about a change in a data transmission mode using a second coding scheme; and

a receiver having one or more modules configured for receiving the high-speed serial data and the transmission mode change signal, and for switching the data transmission mode of the receiver in response thereto.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein the data transmission modes include at least one low-power mode where no data transmission is possible and the receiver is powered down.

21. A system according to claim 19, wherein the first coding scheme is a non-return-to-zero coding scheme and/or the second coding scheme is a return-to-zero coding scheme.

22. A system according to claim 19, wherein the receiver is coupled to an optical receiver that forms part of an optical link, and the transmitter is coupled to an optical transmitter that forms part of the optical link.

23. An apparatus comprising:

one or more modules configured for receiving high-speed serial data over a physical link using a first coding scheme and a transmission mode change signal transmitted with sequential information about a change in a data transmission mode of the apparatus using a second coding scheme; and

one or more modules configured for switching the data transmission mode of the apparatus in response thereto.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the data transmission modes include at least one low-power mode where no data transmission is possible and the receiver is powered down.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the at least one low-power mode includes two different power down states, each having different wake-up times.

26. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the data transmission modes include at least one high speed mode where data transmission is possible and the receiver is on.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the at least one high speed mode include several high speed modes, each having different data transmission rates.

28. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the first coding scheme is a non-return-to-zero coding scheme, and/or the second coding scheme is a return-to-zero coding scheme.

29. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the change in the data transmission mode depends on a sequence transmitted in transmission mode change signals.

30. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the method comprises coupling the apparatus to an optical receiver that forms part of an optical link.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the method comprises decoding the transmission mode change signal with the optical receiver.

32. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein hardware settings are changed based on the information contained in the transmission mode change signal.

33. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the transmission mode change signal is transmitted with a pulse width modulation signal.

34. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the hardware settings includes a setting for adjusting the sensitivity of the apparatus.

35. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the at least one low-power mode includes a stop state that is an intermediate power saving mode which can be entered from and exited to one or more of several high speed modes.

36. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the apparatus includes one or more digital counters or analog circuits for processing the transmission mode change signal.

37. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the apparatus forms part of an data interface implementation, including one for a mobile system such a cellular telephone, handheld computer or digital camera.

38. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the apparatus forms part of a chip that is integrated into a universal serial bus controller.

39. An apparatus comprising:

one or more modules configured for transmitting high-speed serial data over a physical link using a first coding scheme to a receiver; and

one or more modules configured for providing a transmission mode change signal transmitted with sequential information about a change in a data transmission mode of the receiver using a second coding scheme so as to enable the receiver to switch the data transmission mode in response thereto.

40. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the data transmission modes include at least one low-power mode where no data transmission is possible and the receiver is powered down.

41. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the at least one low-power mode includes two different power down states, each having different wake-up times.

42. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the data transmission modes include at least one high speed mode where data transmission is possible and the receiver is on.

43. An apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the at least one high speed mode include several high speed modes, each having different data transmission rates.

44. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the first coding scheme is a non-return-to-zero coding scheme, and/or the second coding scheme is a return-to-zero coding scheme.

45. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the change in the data transmission mode depends on a sequence transmitted in transmission mode change signals.

46. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the apparatus is coupled via an optical transmitter to an optical link.

47. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the optical transmitter provides the transmission mode change signal for decoding by an optical receiver coupled to the receiver.

48. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein hardware settings are changed based on the information contained in the transmission mode change signal.

49. An apparatus according to claim 48, wherein the transmission mode change signal is transmitted with a pulse width modulation signal.

50. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the apparatus forms part of an data interface implementation, including one for a mobile system such a cellular telephone, handheld computer or digital camera.

51. A computer-readable storage medium having computer executable components that, when executed by a computer, perform a method comprising receiving high-speed serial data over a physical link using a first coding scheme;

receiving a transmission mode change signal transmitted with sequential information about a change in a data transmission mode of a receiver using a second coding scheme; and

switching the data transmission mode of the receiver in response to the transmission mode change signal.

53. Apparatus comprising:

means for receiving high-speed serial data over a physical link using a first coding scheme and for receiving a transmission mode change signal transmitted with sequential information about a change in a data transmission mode of a receiver using a second coding scheme; and

means for switching the data transmission mode of the receiver in response to the transmission mode change signal.