Methods for managing a multi data type communication link

• US 7,835,289 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2008
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valens Semiconductor Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Valens Semiconductor Ltd.
• Inventors: Lida, Eyran, Banet, Nadav, Avrahami, Avi, Benzaray, Alon, Risling, Micha, Brunin, Zeev, Eyal, Massad
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Chi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elallam; Ahmed
• Application Number:
  US12/193,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20090074040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 821 Days
• Field of Search: 370/241, 370/253, 370/252, 375/220, 375/222, 700/295, 700/297, 713/300, 713/320, 713/323, 713/324
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0008 arrangements for allowing a transmitter or receiver to use more than one type of modulation negotiating modulation type for two-way transmission paths H04L5/1453
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1453 of modulation type

Abstract

Methods for operating a multi data type communication link transceiver, including: testing the type of the link partner transceiver. If the link partner transceiver is not a multi data type communication link transceiver, operating the multi data type communication link according to the detected type of the link partner transceiver. If the link partner transceiver is a multi data type communication link transceiver, further including the steps of negotiating the functionality required from the multi data type communication link with the link partner, and switching to an appropriate mode of operation.

Claims

1. A method for operating a multi data type communication link transceiver, comprising:

testing the type of a link partner transceiver coupled to the multi data type communication link transceiver, wherein the multi data type communication link configured to operate according to at least two different modes of operation supporting non-coinciding sets of data types transmitted over at least partial overlapping wires;

if the link partner transceiver is not a multi data type communication link transceiver, operating the multi data type communication link according to the detected type of the link partner transceiver;

if the link partner transceiver is a multi data type communication link transceiver, further comprising the steps of negotiating with the link partner the functionality required from the multi data type communication link, and switching the multi data type communication link transceiver to an appropriate mode of operation selected from a group comprising at least;

a first active mode of operation that supports a first throughput of data, and a second low-power partial-functionality (LPPF) mode of operation that supports data transfer having a second throughput greater than zero and lower than one tenth of the first throughput.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising basing the required functionality on the data types to be transmitted over the multi data type communication link.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising basing the required functionality on one or more of the following:

the transmitted bandwidth, or the mode of operation of the link partner.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the modes of operation further comprise a third LPPF mode of operation that supports a functionality different from the functionality supported by the second LPPF mode of operation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi data type communication link is selected from the group of:

Digital Visual Interface (DVI), High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), or DisplayPort.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the communication link transceiver that is not multi data type is an Ethernet interface.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of testing the type of the link partner transceiver further comprises the step of auto negotiating with the link partner.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of testing the type of the link partner transceiver is performed upon waking up, turning on, receiving an invalid link response, or resetting.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of operating the multi data type communication link in a low power mode of operation if at least one of the multi data type communication link transceiver or the link partner transceiver is in a standby mode of operation;

and

operating the multi data type communication link in an active mode of operation if both the multi data type communication link transceiver and the link partner transceiver are in the active mode of operation.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting one of the following combinations of data types in the active mode of operation:

uncompressed high definition digital video data and bidirectional control data, uncompressed high definition digital video and audio data and bidirectional control data, or uncompressed high definition digital video and audio data and bidirectional control data and general data.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting in the low power mode of operation control signals needed for the multi data type communication link transceiver to determine whether it should change its mode of operation.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the low power mode of operation supports one or more of the following HDMI control signals:

EDID DDC transactions, HPD, 5V status signals, or CEC transactions.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of entering a standby mode of operation according to one or more of the following:

the transmitted bandwidth, the type of transmitted data, or the required functionality of the multi data type communication link.

14. A method for operating a multi data type communication link transceiver, comprising:

negotiating with a link partner the functionality required from the multi data type communication link transceiver, wherein the required functionality is based on the data types to be transmitted over the multi data type communication link;

switching the multi data type communication link transceiver to an appropriate mode of operation, which supports the required functionality, selected from the group of at least a first active mode of operation and a second low-power partial-functionality (LPPF) mode of operation;

wherein the second LPPF mode of operation transmits data over a proper subset of the physical media used by the first active mode of operation, and the active and LPPF modes of operation use non-coinciding sets of data types.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the required functionality is further based on one or more of the following:

the transmitted bandwidth, or the mode of operation of the link partner.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the modes of operation further comprise a third LPPF mode of operation that supports a functionality different from the functionality supported by the second LPPF mode of operation.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the multi data type communication link transceivers switching between the various LPPF modes of operation by utilizing messages transmitted between the transceivers.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein while negotiating with the link partner the required functionality, if a first multi data type communication link transceiver is in the first active mode of operation, and a second multi data type communication link transceiver is in another mode of operation, a communication takes place between the two transceivers.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the communication between the two transceivers results in the second multi data type communication link transceiver changing its mode of operation to the active mode of operation.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the communication between the two transceivers results in the first multi data type communication link transceiver changing its mode of operation to the mode of operation of the second multi data type communication link transceiver.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the multi data type communication link transceivers switch between the various modes of operation by communicating between themselves.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the physical media is selected from the group of:

CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6, CAT6a, or CAT7.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising using two pairs of wires while negotiating Ethernet interface with the link partner and using another two pairs of wires while negotiating the multi data type communication link interface with the link partner.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising negotiating with the link partner between using at least Ethernet interface and multi data type communication interface, wherein negotiating the multi data type communication link interface with the link partner comprises utilizing an amplitude which is below the lowest amplitude utilized for negotiating Ethernet interface with the link partner.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising negotiating with the link partner between using at least Ethernet interface and multi data type communication interface, wherein negotiating the multi data type communication link interface with the link partner comprises utilizing a pulse shape that is different from the pulse shape utilized for negotiating Ethernet interface with the link partner.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of negotiating with a link partner the required functionality is performed upon waking up, turning on, receiving an invalid link response, or resetting of the communication link.