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

• US 8,681,817 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• 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): GREY, CHRISTOPHER P
• Application Number:
  US12/259,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20090055709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,974 Days
• Field of Search: 370503-514, 370/328, 370/338, 370/474, 707/696, 707/699, 714/752, 714/758, 714/776
• US Class Current: 370/474
• 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 error codes in a communication system in which digital data is transferred in the form of packets, each of the packets including a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field having a CRC value, between a host device and a client device over a communication link, the method comprising:

detecting the presence of an error in the communication system;

selecting a predetermined error code corresponding to the error; and

overwriting the CRC value in a packet being processed for transfer with the predetermined error code provided the predetermined error code does not match the CRC value;

overwriting the CRC value in the packet being processed for transfer with the compliment of the predetermined error code provided the predetermined error code matches the CRC value.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising overwriting CRC values in subsequent packets being processed for transfer with the predetermined error code until the error is corrected.

3. A method of transferring digital data at a high rate between a host device and a client device in a communication system over a communication link for presentation to a user, comprising:

generating a plurality of packets, the packets having one or more of a plurality of predefined packet structures, each of the packets including at least one cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field having a CRC value, and for linking the packets together to form a predefined communication protocol;

communicating a preselected set of digital control and presentation data between the host device and the client device over the communication link using the communication protocol;

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

transferring data in form of packets over the communication link using the host and client link controllers;

detecting presence of an error in the communication system;

selecting a predetermined error code corresponding to the error; and

overwriting the CRC value in a packet being processed for transfer with the predetermined error code provided the predetermined error code does not match the CRC value;

overwriting the CRC value in the packet being processed for transfer with the compliment of the predetermined error code provided the predetermined error code matches the CRC value.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising overwriting CRC values in subsequent packets being processed for transfer with the predetermined error code until the error is corrected.