Combined flow and low-power state control using same lines between interfaces
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a low-power state of a pair of serial interfaces using a pair of flow-control signal lines, the method comprising:
- enabling a first one of the pair of flow-control signal lines by a first one of the pair of serial interfaces for signal lines a transmission request to a second one of the pair of serial interfaces;
in response to the transmission request, waking up the second one of the pair of serial interfaces to a live state from a low-power state;
enabling a second one of the pair of flow-control signal lines by the second one of the pair of serial interfaces for signal lines a transmission authorization to the first one of the pair of serial interfaces;
in response to the transmission authorization and while keeping enabled the first one of the pair of flow-control signal lines, initiating a transmission of a message by the first one of the pair of serial interfaces to the second one of the pair of serial interfaces;
upon reaching an offset before an end of the transmission of the message, disabling the first one of the pair of flow-control signal lines by the first one of the pair of serial interfaces so that transmissions on the pair of serial interfaces end at a same time, the offset being defined by a smallest data unit whose transmission is not suspended by a flow-control signal;
at the end of the transmission of the message, disabling the second one of the pair of flow-control signal lines by the second one of the pair of serial interfaces and transitioning the second one of the pair of serial interfaces into the low-power state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for controlling a low-power state of a pair of serial interfaces using a pair of flow-control signal lines may include enabling a first of the flow-control lines by a first one of the interfaces for signaling a transmission request to the second interface. The method may also include, in response to the transmission request, waking up to a live state from a low-power state and enabling a second flow-control line for signaling a transmission authorization to the first interface. In response to the transmission authorization, the method may include initiating a transmission of a message to the second interface, and upon reaching an offset before the end of the message transmission, disabling the first flow-control line by the first interface. The method may also include, at the end of the message transmission, disabling the second flow-control line and going back into the low-power state.
7 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a low-power state of a pair of serial interfaces using a pair of flow-control signal lines, the method comprising:
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enabling a first one of the pair of flow-control signal lines by a first one of the pair of serial interfaces for signal lines a transmission request to a second one of the pair of serial interfaces; in response to the transmission request, waking up the second one of the pair of serial interfaces to a live state from a low-power state; enabling a second one of the pair of flow-control signal lines by the second one of the pair of serial interfaces for signal lines a transmission authorization to the first one of the pair of serial interfaces; in response to the transmission authorization and while keeping enabled the first one of the pair of flow-control signal lines, initiating a transmission of a message by the first one of the pair of serial interfaces to the second one of the pair of serial interfaces; upon reaching an offset before an end of the transmission of the message, disabling the first one of the pair of flow-control signal lines by the first one of the pair of serial interfaces so that transmissions on the pair of serial interfaces end at a same time, the offset being defined by a smallest data unit whose transmission is not suspended by a flow-control signal; at the end of the transmission of the message, disabling the second one of the pair of flow-control signal lines by the second one of the pair of serial interfaces and transitioning the second one of the pair of serial interfaces into the low-power state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for controlling a low-power state of a pair of serial interfaces using a pair of flow-control signal lines, the method comprising:
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enabling a first one of the pair of flow-control signal lines by a first one of the pair of serial interfaces; waking up a second one of the pair of serial interfaces to a live state from a low-power state based upon enabling the first one of the pair of flow-control signal lines; enabling a second one of the pair of flow-control signal lines by the second one of the pair of serial interfaces; while keeping enabled the first one of the pair of flow-control signal lines, initiating communication of a message to the second one of the pair of serial interfaces based upon enabling the second one of the pair of flow-control signal lines; upon reaching an offset before an end of the message, disabling the first one of the pair of flow-control signal lines by the first one of the pair of serial interfaces so that communications on the pair of serial interfaces end at a same time, the offset being defined by a smallest data unit whose communication is not suspended by a flow-control signal; and at the end of the communication of the message, disabling the second one of the pair of flow-control signal lines by the second one of the pair of serial interfaces and transitioning the second one of the pair of serial interfaces into the low-power state. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A serial interface circuit comprising:
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a pair of serial interfaces; a pair of flow-control signal lines coupled between the pair of serial interfaces and configured to control the pair of serial interfaces; and flow-control circuitry coupled to said pair of serial interfaces and said pair of flow-control signal lines, the flow-control circuitry configured to enable a first one of the pair of flow-control signal lines by a first one of said pair of serial interfaces for signal lines a transmission request to a second one of the pair of serial interfaces, in response to the transmission request, wake up the second one of the pair of serial interfaces to a live state from a low-power state, enable a second one of the pair of flow-control signal lines by the second one of said pair of serial interfaces for signal lines a transmission authorization to the first one of said pair of serial interfaces, in response to the transmission authorization and while keeping enabled the first one of the pair of flow-control signal lines, initiate a transmission of a message to the second one of said pair of serial interfaces, upon reaching an offset before an end of the transmission of the message, disable the first one of the pair of flow-control signal lines by the first one of the pair of serial interfaces so that transmissions on said pair of serial interfaces end at a same time, the offset being defined by a smallest data unit whose transmission is not suspended by a flow-control signal, and at the end of the transmission of the message, disable the second one of the pair of flow-control signal lines by the second one of the pair of serial interfaces and transitioning the second one of the pair of serial interfaces into the low-power state. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification