Virtualized physical layer adapted for EHF contactless communication
First Claim
1. A method of communicating between electronic devices over an EHF contactless communications link, at least one device having a host system comprising a Physical Layer (PHY) and a first Standards-based Data Link Layer (LINK) and an EHF contactless HAT IC comprising at least one transceiver (EHF-XCVR) and capable of communicating over the EHF contactless communications link, the method comprising:
- receiving a data stream operating according to specifications of the first LINK;
translating the data stream such that it operates according to specifications of a contactless link-based Link Layer (cLINK) existing within the PHY and specifications of a contactless Physical Layer (Host-cPHY) existing within the PHY, wherein the Host-cPHY implements interface specifications and medium requirements for sending and receiving signals over the EHF contactless link via the EHF contactless EHF IC, and wherein the cLINK couples the first LINK with the Host-cPHY; and
contactlessly transmitting the translated data stream via the at least one EHF-XCVR.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A Physical Layer (PHY) of a host system of an electronic device may be implemented as a contactless PHY (cPHY) for extremely high frequency (EHF) contactless communication and the operation of EHF transmitters (TX), receivers (RX) and transceivers (EHF-XCVR) in an extremely high frequency integrated circuit (EHF IC) of the electronic device. The Host-cPHY translates logical communications requests from the Link Layer (LINK) into hardware-specific operations to affect transmission or reception of signals over an EHF contactless link. The Link Layer (LINK) may also be optimized as a contactless Link Layer (cLINK) for EHF contactless communication. A virtualized contactless Physical Layer (VcPHY) may comprise a contactless Physical Layer (Host-cPHY), and a contactless Link Layer (cLINK) for coupling a conventional Link Layer (LINK) with the contactless Physical Layer (Host-cPHY). Multiple data streams may be transported over the EHF contactless link over a range of frequencies.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of communicating between electronic devices over an EHF contactless communications link, at least one device having a host system comprising a Physical Layer (PHY) and a first Standards-based Data Link Layer (LINK) and an EHF contactless HAT IC comprising at least one transceiver (EHF-XCVR) and capable of communicating over the EHF contactless communications link, the method comprising:
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receiving a data stream operating according to specifications of the first LINK; translating the data stream such that it operates according to specifications of a contactless link-based Link Layer (cLINK) existing within the PHY and specifications of a contactless Physical Layer (Host-cPHY) existing within the PHY, wherein the Host-cPHY implements interface specifications and medium requirements for sending and receiving signals over the EHF contactless link via the EHF contactless EHF IC, and wherein the cLINK couples the first LINK with the Host-cPHY; and contactlessly transmitting the translated data stream via the at least one EHF-XCVR. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification