PCIE SWITCH FOR AGGREGATING A LARGE NUMBER OF ENDPOINT DEVICES
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a root port for coupling to a root complex via a serial computer expansion bus;
a plurality of endpoint ports, each endpoint port for coupling to an endpoint device via a serial communication link, wherein each endpoint port is associated with a function number;
a downstream buffer disposed in a first communication pathway from a downstream output of the root port to each of the endpoint ports, wherein the downstream buffer queues transaction layer packets received from a downstream output of the root port, wherein a function number is identified from each transaction layer packet in the downstream buffer, and wherein each transaction layer packet in the downstream buffer is directed to a downstream input of an endpoint port associated with the identified function number; and
an upstream buffer disposed in a second communication pathway from an upstream output of each of the endpoint ports to an upstream input the root port, wherein the upstream buffer queues transaction layer packets received from an upstream output of each endpoint port, and wherein the transaction layer packets in the upstream buffer are directed to an upstream input of the root port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus includes a root port for coupling to a root complex, and a plurality of endpoint ports for coupling to endpoint devices, wherein each endpoint port is associated with a function number. A downstream buffer queues transaction layer packets (TLPs) received from the root port, wherein each TLP in the downstream buffer is directed to an endpoint port associated with the identified function number. An upstream buffer queues TLPs received from each endpoint port, and directs the queued TLPs to the root port. A method includes associating a function number with each endpoint port of a switch, wherein each endpoint port is adapted for coupling to an endpoint device. The method further includes receiving a first TLP from a root complex, identifying a function number within the first TLP, and directing the first TLP to an endpoint device through the endpoint port associated with the identified function number.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a root port for coupling to a root complex via a serial computer expansion bus; a plurality of endpoint ports, each endpoint port for coupling to an endpoint device via a serial communication link, wherein each endpoint port is associated with a function number; a downstream buffer disposed in a first communication pathway from a downstream output of the root port to each of the endpoint ports, wherein the downstream buffer queues transaction layer packets received from a downstream output of the root port, wherein a function number is identified from each transaction layer packet in the downstream buffer, and wherein each transaction layer packet in the downstream buffer is directed to a downstream input of an endpoint port associated with the identified function number; and an upstream buffer disposed in a second communication pathway from an upstream output of each of the endpoint ports to an upstream input the root port, wherein the upstream buffer queues transaction layer packets received from an upstream output of each endpoint port, and wherein the transaction layer packets in the upstream buffer are directed to an upstream input of the root port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method, comprising:
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associating a function number with each of a plurality of endpoint ports of a switch, wherein each endpoint port is adapted for coupling to an endpoint device via a serial communication link; receiving a first transaction layer packet from a root complex; identifying a function number within the first transaction layer packet; and directing the first transaction layer packet to an endpoint device through the endpoint port that is associated with the identified function number. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification