FLOW CONTROL METHODOLOGY FOR DIGITAL RETIMING DEVICES

Abstract

A network diagnostic device or component such as a network analyzer or a jammer that is placed in-line between two nodes in a network to perform a flow control operation transparently without the requirement of a separate link layer implementation. The network diagnostic device may include a diagnostic module configured to perform network analyzer operations, a memory a first flow control module a second flow control module. In some embodiments, when performing the flow control operation, various modules and/or components may cause the network diagnostic device to enter a first pass-through mode and to then enter into a first flow control handshaking mode from the first pass-through mode. The various modules and/or components may also cause the network diagnostic device to enter a second pass-through mode from the first flow control handshaking mode and to then enter into a second flow control handshaking mode from the first pass-through mode.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify the above and other advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a network including a network diagnostic component placed in-line between two nodes;

FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed view of a particular embodiment of the network of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a flow control methodology in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a method for a network diagnostic component or device that is in-line between first and second nodes to perform a flow control operation;

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for a network diagnostic component to enter into a first pass-through mode; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a method for a network diagnostic component to enter a first flow control handshaking mode from a first pass-through mode.

Claims

1. A network diagnostic component placed in-line between first and second nodes in a network comprising: a diagnostic module configured to perform one or more diagnostic operations;a first memory buffer;a second memory buffer;a first flow control module; anda second flow control module, wherein the network diagnostic device is configured to perform a flow control operation transparently without the requirement of a separate link layer implementation.

2. The network diagnostic component in accordance with claim 1, wherein the one or more diagnostic operations include jamming, analyzing, monitoring, bit error rate testing, and generating.

3. The network diagnostic component in accordance with claim 1, wherein the network diagnostic component is one of a bit error rate tester, a protocol analyzer, a generator, a jammer, and a monitor.

4. The network diagnostic component in accordance with claim 1, wherein the flow control operation comprises: entering into a first pass-through mode; andentering into a first flow control handshaking mode from the first pass-through mode.

5. The network diagnostic component in accordance with claim 4, wherein the flow control operation further comprises: entering into a second pass-through mode from the first flow control handshaking mode; andentering into a second flow control handshaking mode from the second pass-through mode.

6. The network diagnostic component in accordance with claim 4, wherein entering the first pass-through mode comprises at least: receiving one or more first signals for transmission to the second node, wherein the one or more first signals are received from the first node and passed to the second flow control module;transmitting the one or more first signals to the second node, wherein the one or more first signals are substantially unaltered by the network diagnostic device;receiving one or more second signals for transmission to the first node, wherein the one or more second signals are received from the second node and passed to the first flow control module; andtransmitting the one or more second signals to the first node, wherein the one or more second signals are substantially unaltered by the network diagnostic device.

7. The network diagnostic component in accordance with claim 4, wherein entering the first flow control handshaking mode comprises at least: receiving a first signal from the first node, the first signal indicating that the first node should not receive any more second signals from the second node;storing any received second signals in the memory;sending the first node a third signal indicating that the first signal has been received;sending the first signal to the second node;receiving the third signal indicating that the first signal has been received by the second node; andproviding any second signals stored in the memory to the first module upon receiving a fourth signal indicating that the first node should receive the second signals.

8. The network diagnostic component in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first or second memory is a buffer with an approximately 240 dword depth.

9. The network diagnostic component in accordance with claim 1, wherein the network diagnostic device is configured to operate with the SAS or SATA protocol.

10. A network analyzer placed in-line between first and second nodes in a network comprising: a diagnostic module configured to perform network analyzer operations;a first memory module;a second memory module;a first flow control module; anda second flow control module, wherein the network analyzer is configured to perform a flow control operation transparently without the requirement of a separate link layer implementation.

11. The network analyzer in accordance with claim 10, wherein the flow control operation comprises: entering into a first pass-through mode; andentering into a first flow control handshaking mode from the first pass-through mode.

12. The network analyzer in accordance with claim 11, wherein the flow control operation further comprises: entering into a second pass-through mode first flow control handshaking mode; andentering into a second flow control handshaking mode from the second pass-through mode.

13. The network analyzer in accordance with claim 11, wherein entering the first pass-through mode comprises at least: receiving one or more first signals for transmission to the second node, wherein the one or more first signals are received from the first node and passed to the second flow control module;transmitting the one or more first signals to the second node, wherein the one or more first signals are substantially unaltered by the network diagnostic device;receiving one or more second signals for transmission to the first node, wherein the one or more second signals are received from the second node and passed to the first flow control module; andtransmitting the one or more second signals to the first node, wherein the one or more second signals are substantially unaltered by the network diagnostic device.

14. The network analyzer in accordance with claim 11, wherein entering the first flow control handshaking mode comprises at least: receiving a first signal from the first node, the first signal indicating that the first node should not receive any more second signals from the second node;storing any second signals received at the second flow control module in the memory;sending the first node a third signal indicating that the first signal has been received;sending the first signal to the second node;receiving the third signal indicating that the first signal has been received by the second node; andproviding any second signals stored in the memory to the first module upon receiving a fourth signal indicating that the first node should receive the second signals.

15. The network analyzer in accordance with claim 10, wherein the first or second memory is a buffer with an approximately 240 dword depth.

16. The network analyzer in accordance with claim 10, wherein the network diagnostic device is configured to operate with the SAS or SATA protocol.

17. A method for a network diagnostic component that is placed in-line between first and second nodes in a network to perform a flow control operation transparently without the requirement of a separate link layer implementation, wherein the network diagnostic component includes at least a network diagnostic module, the method comprising: entering into a first pass-through mode; andentering into a first flow control handshaking mode from the first pass-through mode.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising: entering into a second pass-through mode first flow control handshaking mode; andentering into a second flow control handshaking mode from the second pass-through mode.

19. The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein entering the first pass-through mode comprises at least: receiving one or more first signals for transmission to the second node, wherein the one or more first signals are received by the first flow control module and passed to the second flow control module;transmitting the one or more first signals to the second node, wherein the one or more first signals are substantially unaltered by the network diagnostic device;receiving one or more second signals for transmission to the first node, wherein the one or more second signals are received by the second flow control module and passed to the first flow control module; andtransmitting the one or more second signals to the first node, wherein the one or more second signals are substantially unaltered by the network diagnostic device.

20. The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein entering the first flow control handshaking mode comprises at least: receiving a first signal from the first node, the first signal indicating that the first node should not receive any more second signals from the second node;storing any second signals received at the second flow control module in the memory;sending the first node a third signal indicating that the first signal has been received;sending the first signal to the second node;receiving the third signal indicating that the first signal has been received by the second node; andproviding any second signals stored in the memory to the first module upon receiving a fourth signal indicating that the first node should receive the second signals.

21. The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the network diagnostic component is configured to operate with the SAS or SATA protocol.

22. The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the network diagnostic module is configured to perform one of jamming, analyzing, monitoring, bit error rate testing, or generating.

23. The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the network diagnostic component is one of a bit error rate tester, a protocol analyzer, a generator, a jammer, and a monitor.