Communication controllers and methods therefor
First Claim
1. In a host adapter circuit configured for coupling a host electronic device with one of a fiber channel loop and a point-to-point communication channel, a method for receiving data at said host adapter circuit from one of said fiber channel loop and said point-to-point communication channel, comprising:
- providing a selectable control signal configured for indicating whether said host adapter circuit is coupled to said fiber channel loop or said point-to-point communication channel;
providing a front-end receive circuit, said front-end receive circuit being configured for coupling with an input data port, said input data port representing one of said fiber channel loop and said point-to-point communication channel;
coupling said front-end receive circuit with said selectable control signal; and
coupling an output of said front-end receive circuit with a decoder of said host adapter circuit, wherein said front-end receive circuit is configured to process, responsive to said selectable control signal, either fiber channel loop data from said fiber channel loop or point-to-point data from said point-to-point communication channel from said input data port to provide parallel data having a predefined size to said decoder circuit.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, in a host adapter circuit configured for coupling a host electronic device with one of a fiber channel loop and a point-to-point communication channel, for receiving data at the host adapter circuit from one of the fiber channel loop and the point-to-point communication channel. The method includes providing a selectable control signal configured for indicating whether the host adapter circuit is coupled to the fiber channel loop or the point-to-point communication channel. The method further includes providing a front-end receive circuit. The front-end receive circuit is configured for coupling with an input data port. The input data port represents one of the fiber channel loop and the point-to-point communication channel. The method also includes coupling the front-end receive circuit with the selectable control signal. Additionally, the method includes coupling an output of the front-end receive circuit with a decoder of the host adapter circuit, wherein the front-end receive circuit is configured to process, responsive to the selectable control signal, either fiber channel loop data from the fiber channel loop or point-to-point data from the point-to-point communication channel from the input data port to provide parallel data having a predefined size to the decoder circuit.
18 Citations
21 Claims
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1. In a host adapter circuit configured for coupling a host electronic device with one of a fiber channel loop and a point-to-point communication channel, a method for receiving data at said host adapter circuit from one of said fiber channel loop and said point-to-point communication channel, comprising:
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providing a selectable control signal configured for indicating whether said host adapter circuit is coupled to said fiber channel loop or said point-to-point communication channel; providing a front-end receive circuit, said front-end receive circuit being configured for coupling with an input data port, said input data port representing one of said fiber channel loop and said point-to-point communication channel; coupling said front-end receive circuit with said selectable control signal; and coupling an output of said front-end receive circuit with a decoder of said host adapter circuit, wherein said front-end receive circuit is configured to process, responsive to said selectable control signal, either fiber channel loop data from said fiber channel loop or point-to-point data from said point-to-point communication channel from said input data port to provide parallel data having a predefined size to said decoder circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A host adapter circuit configured for coupling a host electronic device with one of a fiber channel loop and a point-to-point communication channel, said host adapter circuit being configured for receiving data from one of said fiber channel loop and said point-to-point communication channel, comprising:
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a selectable control signal configured for indicating whether said host adapter circuit is coupled to said fiber channel loop or said point-to-point communication channel; a front-end receive circuit coupled to said selectable control signal, said front-end receive circuit being configured for coupling with an input data port, said input data port representing one of said fiber channel loop and said point-to-point communication channel; and a decoder coupled to an output of said front-end receive circuit, wherein said front-end receive circuit is configured to process, responsive to said selectable control signal, either fiber channel loop data from said fiber channel loop or point-to-point data from said point-to-point communication channel from said input data port to provide parallel data having a predetermined size to said decoder circuit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A host adapter circuit configured for coupling a host electronic device with one of a fiber channel loop and a point-to-point communication channel for receiving data at said host adapter circuit from one of said fiber channel loop and said point-to-point communication channel, comprising:
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means for indicating whether said host adapter circuit is coupled to said fiber channel loop or said point-to-point communication channel; means coupled to said indicating means for receiving first data from an input data port of said host adapter circuit, said input data port being configured to be coupled to one of said fiber channel loop and said point-to-point communication channel; means coupled to said indicating means for ascertaining whether said first data pertains to said host electronic device when said input data port is coupled to said fiber channel loop; and means for passing said first data to said fiber channel loop if said first data is ascertained not to pertain to said electronic device when said input data port is coupled to said fiber channel loop. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification