Virtualized PCI endpoint for extended systems

• US 20100161870A1
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David A. Daniel
• Original Assignee: David A. Daniel
• Inventors: Daniel, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,064,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/314
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]

Abstract

Virtualization of a PCI Endpoint via the Internet and LANs. The invention is a solution that allows the use of low-complexity, low-cost PCI Express Endpoint Type 0 cores or custom logic for relatively simple virtualization applications. The invention combines two physically separate assemblies in such a way that they appear to the host system as one local multifunctional PCI Express Endpoint device.

Claims

1. A module configured to virtualize a local bus function via the Internet and LANs.

2. The module as specified in claim 1 wherein the local bus is PCI or PCI Express.

3. The module as specified in claim 1 where there is no PCI/PCI bridge provided to virtualize the local bus.

4. The module as specified in claim 1 wherein the function is a PCI Endpoint function.

5. The module as specified in claim 1 wherein the module comprises:

a local assembly configured to adapt the local bus to a network and implement a subset of PCI Endpoint functionality;

a virtualization protocol and transport configured to transport packets from the local assembly via the network;

at least one remote assembly) configured to receive the packets and adapt the network to a subset of PCI Endpoint functionality;

wherein the local assembly and the at least one remote assembly together form a complete PCI Endpoint functionality.

6. The module t as specified in claim 5 wherein the transport is defined by an Internet Protocol Suite.

7. The module as specified in claim 6, wherein the transport is TCP/IP.

8. The module as specified in claim 5, where the transport is a LAN.

9. The module as specified in claim 8, wherein the LAN is an Ethernet.

10. The modulet as specified in claim 5, wherein the transport is a direct connect arrangement configured to utilize an Ethernet physical layer as the transport, without consideration of a MAC hardware address or any interceding external Ethernet switch.

11. The module as specified in claim 5, wherein the transport is a wireless transport and the local assembly and the at least one remote assembly include a radio platform.

12. The module as specified in claim 5 wherein the virtualization protocol is i-PCI.

13. The module as specified in claim 1 wherein the module comprises a PCI Express Endpoint Type 0 core.

14. The module as specified in claim 5 wherein the local assembly and remote assembly are configured to appear to the host system as one local multifunctional PCI Express Endpoint device.

15. The module as specified in claim 5 further comprising a plurality of remote assemblies each having an associated application, the associated applications configured to implement a single function.

16. The module as specified in claim 1 wherein the module is switchless.

17. The module as specified in claim 5 wherein a transaction layer and application layer associated with the Endpoint is located at the remote assembly.

18. The module as specified in claim 2 wherein the module is configured to encapsulate/un-encapsulate data packets of PCI or PCI Express.

19. The module as specified in claim 18 wherein there is no PCI/PCI bridge provided to virtualize the local bus.

20. The module as specified in claim 5 wherein the local assembly is an adapter card that is configure to not act on any transactions other than to present an PCI Express Endpoint port interface to a host system and accomplish data transport per the i-PCI specification.