Communication node with a first bus configuration for arbitration and a second bus configuration for data transfer
First Claim
1. A communication system for interconnecting a plurality of local hosts, the communication system providing a first bus configuration for arbitration and a second bus configuration for unidirectional data transfer, comprising:
- a plurality of nodes, each node including an arbiter, a data bus, at least one port, and at least one multiplexer responsive to said arbiter for selectively coupling each port of the node to one of the arbiter and the data bus;
a plurality of point-to-point links, each point-to-point link coupling a port of a first node with a port of a second, different node, so that the nodes have a tree topology coupled by said point-to-point links;
a plurality of local hosts, each local host being coupled to one of the nodes for arbitrating bus access, receiving data, and transmitting data; and
wherein in the first bus configuration the multiplexers couple the arbiters to the ports to receive and transmit arbitration messages thereon, and in the second bus configuration the multiplexers couple the data bus to the ports to selectively receive and transmit data thereon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A node for a communication system that has a plurality of nodes, each of which may be coupled to a local host. The nodes are coupled between themselves in a tree topology by a plurality of point-to-point links. The interconnected nodes provide a first bus configuration for arbitration like a single bus. Following arbitration, the interconnected nodes provide a second configuration for high speed unidirectional data transfer without the bandwidth limitations of a single bus. Each node includes an arbiter, a data bus, a plurality of ports, a first multiplexer to select either the arbiter or the data bus, and a second multiplexer to select either the arbiter or the data bus. The data bus includes a transmit bus and a receive bus that are coupled with a repeater circuit that can resynchronize the data. During arbitration, the multiplexers select the arbiter to provide the function of a single bus for all the nodes. During data transfer, the multiplexers are configured for transmission of data. Furthermore, a node can function as a repeater and resynchronizer even if it is not connected to a local host or if the local host is turned off or otherwise nonoperational.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A communication system for interconnecting a plurality of local hosts, the communication system providing a first bus configuration for arbitration and a second bus configuration for unidirectional data transfer, comprising:
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a plurality of nodes, each node including an arbiter, a data bus, at least one port, and at least one multiplexer responsive to said arbiter for selectively coupling each port of the node to one of the arbiter and the data bus; a plurality of point-to-point links, each point-to-point link coupling a port of a first node with a port of a second, different node, so that the nodes have a tree topology coupled by said point-to-point links; a plurality of local hosts, each local host being coupled to one of the nodes for arbitrating bus access, receiving data, and transmitting data; and wherein in the first bus configuration the multiplexers couple the arbiters to the ports to receive and transmit arbitration messages thereon, and in the second bus configuration the multiplexers couple the data bus to the ports to selectively receive and transmit data thereon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A communication node for performing arbitration and data transmission between a plurality of like nodes, each node being coupled to at least one other node by a point-to-point communication link, the communication node providing a first bus configuration in which the bus appears as a single logical bus for arbitration and a second bus configuration in which the bus is configured for unidirectional data transmission, the communication node comprising:
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a plurality of communication ports, each port coupled to one of the point-to-point communication links, each port having a transceiver including a receiver and a transmitter; an arbiter coupled to each of the communication ports; a data bus coupled to each of the communication ports; and a plurality of first multiplexers, each first multiplexer being coupled to one of the receivers, each first multiplexer being selectable by the arbiter to couple the receiver to one of the data bus and the arbiter; a plurality of second multiplexers, each second multiplexer being coupled to one of the transmitters, each second multiplexer being selectable by the arbiter to couple the transmitter to one of the data bus and the arbiter, wherein in the first bus configuration the arbiter is coupled to the communication ports to receive and transmit arbitration messages thereon, and in the second bus configuration the ports are coupled to the data bus to selectively receive and transmit data thereon. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A communication node for performing arbitration and data transmission between a plurality of like nodes, each node being coupled to a local host and coupled to at least one other node by a point-to-point communication link having a first signal line for communicating a first signal and a second signal line for communicating a second signal, the communication node providing a first bus configuration in which the bus appears as a single logical bus for arbitration and a second bus configuration in which the bus is configured for unidirectional data transmission, said communication node comprising:
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a plurality of communication ports, each port coupled to the first signal line and the second signal line, each port having a transceiver including a receiver coupled to the first signal line and a transmitter coupled to the second signal line; an arbiter coupled to the local host and each of the communication ports to control the direction of signal flow through the ports; a transmit bus coupled to the local host and the ports for supplying data to the ports; a receive bus coupled to the local host and the ports for receiving data from the ports; a data repeater circuit coupled between the transmit bus and the receive bus; a plurality of first multiplexers, each first multiplexer being coupled to one of the receivers, each first multiplexer being selectable by the arbiter to couple the receiver to one of the receive bus and the arbiter; a plurality of second multiplexers, each second multiplexer being coupled to one of the transmitters, each second multiplexer being selectable by the arbiter to couple the transmitter to one of the transmit bus, the receive bus, and the arbiter; and wherein in the first bus configuration the arbiter is coupled to said first and second multiplexers to receive and transmit arbitration messages thereon, and in the second bus configuration the first multiplexer is coupled to the receive bus to receive data, and the second multiplexer is coupled to the transmit bus to transmit data thereon.
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20. A communication node for performing arbitration and parallel data transmission between a plurality of like nodes, each node being coupled to a local host and also coupled to at least one other node by a point-to-point communication link having a first signal line for communicating a first signal and a second signal line for communicating a second signal, the communication node providing a first bus configuration in which the bus appears as a single logical bus for arbitration and a second bus configuration in which the bus is configured for unidirectional, parallel data transmission, the communication node comprising:
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a plurality of communication ports, each port coupled to the first signal line and the second signal line, each port having a first transceiver coupled to the first signal line, the first transceiver including a first receiver and a first transmitter, each port also having a second transceiver coupled to the second signal line, the second transceiver including a second receiver and a second transmitter; an arbiter coupled to the local host, the arbiter including arbitration control logic responsive to signals on the first and second signal lines on each port of the node; a first transmit bus coupled to the local host; a second transmit bus coupled to the local host; a first receive bus coupled to the local host; a second receive bus coupled to the local host; a first data repeater circuit coupled between the first transmit bus and the first receive bus; a second data repeater circuit coupled between the second transmit bus and the second receive bus; a plurality of first multiplexers, each of said first multiplexers being coupled to one of the first transceivers in the node, each first multiplexer being selectable to couple the first transceiver to one of the first receive bus, the first transmit bus, and the arbiter; a plurality of second multiplexers, each of the second multiplexers being coupled to one of said second transceivers in the node, each second multiplexer being selectable to couple said second transceiver to one of the second receive bus, the second transmit bus, and the arbiter; and wherein the arbiter is coupled to said first and second multiplexers, and further includes multiplexer control logic to select the coupling by the multiplexer, and further, wherein the arbiter is coupled to said first and second transceivers, and includes transceiver control logic to select the direction of signal flow through each of the transceivers.
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Specification