Generating and implementing a signal protocol and interface for higher data rates

• US 8,700,744 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Anderson, Jon James, Steele, Brian, Wiley, George Alan, Shekhar, Shashank
• Primary Examiner(s): GREENE, JOSEPH L
• Application Number:
  US12/259,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20090070479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,995 Days
• Field of Search: 709/232, 709/233, 709/220, 709/223, 709/227, 709/237
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0061 Error detection codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/245 by using the properties of transmission codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/03 Protocol definition or specification protocol conformance testing H04L1/244
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0008 Synchronisation information channels, e.g. clock distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/048 using the properties of error detecting or error correcting codes, e.g. parity as synchronisation signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/10 Arrangements for initial synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A data Interface for transferring digital data between a host and a client over a communication path using packet structures linked together to form a communication protocol for communicating a pre-selected set of digital control and presentation data. The signal protocol is used by link controllers configured to generate, transmit, and receive packets forming the communications protocol, and to form digital data into one or more types of data packets, with at least one residing in the host device and being coupled to the client through the communications path. The interface provides a cost-effective, low power, bi-directional, high-speed data transfer mechanism over a short-range “serial” type data link, which lends itself to implementation with miniature connectors and thin flexible cables which are especially useful in connecting display elements such as wearable micro-displays to portable computers and wireless communication devices.

Claims

1. A method of waking up a Mobile Data Digital Interface (MDDI) system from hibernation based on a clock cycle based timing for signal toggling, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a clock for generating strobe clock cycles in a host for waking up the MDDI system from hibernation, the waking up not being time driven;

driving a data line high at a beginning of a first wakeup sequence from an un-driven state by the host;

toggling a strobe signal as if the data line was zero for a first number of strobe clock cycles by the host during the first wakeup sequence;

driving the data line low while continuing to toggle the strobe signal for a second number of strobe clock cycles by the host during the first wakeup sequence;

transmitting a first sub-frame header packet having a unique word by the host to the client after the first wakeup sequence;

driving the data line high at a beginning of a second wakeup sequence by the client, the client asynchronously driving the data line high without a clock;

the client counting a third number of continuous strobe clock cycles of the data line being driven high during the second wakeup sequence, after which the client stops driving the data line high and counts a fourth number of continuous strobe clock cycles of the data line being driven by the host, wherein the third and fourth numbers sum to the first number; and

the client counting for the second number of strobe clock cycles of the data line being driven low during the second wakeup sequence, after which the client looks for the unique word in a second sub-frame header packet transmitted by the host.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the third number is 70.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first number is at least 150 and the second number is at least 50.

4. A system for waking up a Mobile Data Digital Interface (MDDI) system from hibernation based on a clock cycle based timing for signal toggling comprising:

means for providing a clock for generating strobe clock cycles in a host for waking up the MDDI system from hibernation, the waking up not being time driven;

means for driving a data line high at a beginning of a first wakeup sequence from an un-driven state by the host;

means for toggling a strobe signal as if the data line was zero for a first number of strobe clock cycles by the host during the first wakeup sequence

means for driving the data line low while continuing to toggle the strobe signal for a second number of additional strobe clock cycles by the host during the first wakeup sequence;

means for transmitting a first sub-frame header packet having a unique word by the host to the client after the first wakeup sequence;

means for driving the data line high at a beginning of a second wakeup sequence by the client, the client asynchronously driving the data line high without a clock;

the client counting a third number of continuous strobe clock cycles of the data line being driven high during the second wakeup sequence, after which the client stops driving the data line high and counts a fourth number of continuous strobe clock cycles of the data line being driven high by the host, wherein the third and fourth numbers sum to the first number; and

the client counting for the second number of strobe clock cycles of the data line being driven low during the second wakeup sequence, after which the client looks for the unique word in a second sub-frame header packet transmitted by the host.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the first number is at least 150 and the second number is at least 50.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the third number is 70.

7. A non-transitory storage media comprising program instructions which are hardware computer-executable to implement a wake up of a Mobile Data Digital Interface (MDDI) system from hibernation based on a clock cycle based timing for signal toggling, the storage media comprising:

a clock for generating strobe clock cycles in a host for waking up the MDDI system from hibernation, the waking up not being time driven;

program instructions that cause a data line to be driven high at a beginning of a first wakeup sequence from an un-driven state by the host;

program instructions that cause a strobe signal to be toggled as if the data line was zero for a first number of strobe clock cycles by the host during the first wakeup sequence;

program instructions that cause the data line to be driven low while continuing to toggle the strobe signal for at least 50 a second number of additional strobe clock cycles by the host during the first wakeup sequence;

program instructions that cause a first sub-frame header packet having a unique word to be transmitted by the host to the client after the first wakeup sequence;

program instructions that cause the data line to be driven high at a beginning of a second wakeup sequence by the client, the client asynchronously driving the data line high without a clock;

program instructions that cause the client to count a third number of continuous strobe clock cycles of the data line being driven high during the second wakeup sequence, after which the client stops driving the data line high and counts a fourth number of continuous strobe clock cycles of the data line being driven high by the host, wherein the third and fourth numbers sum to the first number; and

program instructions that cause the client to count for the second number of strobe clock cycles of the data line being driven low during the second wakeup sequence, after which the client looks for the unique word in a second sub-frame header packet transmitted by the host.

8. The storage media of claim 7 wherein the first number is at least 150 and the second number is at least 50.

9. The storage media of claim 8 wherein the their number is 70.