GENERATING AND IMPLEMENTING A SIGNAL PROTOCOL AND INTERFACE FOR HIGHER DATA RATES

• US 20090070479A1
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Steele, Brian, Shekhar, Shashank, Wiley, George Alan, ANDERSON, Jon James
• Granted Patent: US 8,700,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/232
• 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 transferring digital data at a high rate between a host device and a client device over a communication path for presentation to a user, comprising:

generating one or more of a plurality of pre-defined packet structures and linking them together to form a pre-defined communication protocol;

communicating a pre-selected set of digital control and presentation data between said host and said client devices over said communication path using said communication protocol;

coupling at least one host link controller residing in said host device to said client device through said communications path, the host link controller being configured to generate, transmit, and receive packets forming said communications protocol, and to form digital presentation data into one or more types of data packets;

transferring data in the form of packets over said communications path using said link controllers; and

waking up a communication link by driving a data line to a high state for at least 150 clock cycles and starting to transmit a strobe signal as if the data line was zero, by said host.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising driving the data line low for 50 clock cycles by said host while continuing to transmit a strobe signal after the host has driven the data line high for 150 clock cycles.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising beginning to transmit the first sub-frame header packet by said host.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising counting at least 150 continuous clock cycles of the data line being high, followed by at least 50 continuous clock cycles of the data line being low, by said client.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising searching for the unique word of the first sub-frame by said client.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising stopping driving the data line high by said client after the client counts 70 continuous clock cycles of the data being high.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising counting another 80 continuous clock cycles of the data line being high to reach the 150 clock cycles of the data line being high by said client, and looking for 50 clock cycles of the data line being low, and looking for the unique word.