TW201403333A - Data routing system supporting dual host apparatuses - Google Patents

Abstract

A data routing system supporting dual host apparatuses is provided. The system comprises a host apparatus, at least one storage apparatus, and at least one non-storage apparatus. The host apparatus comprises a first plug and a first socket for transmitting data of a first channel, a second plug and a second socket for transmitting data of a second channel, a slave controller coupled to the first plug, a hub coupled to the first socket, and a processor coupled to the slave controller and the hub for processing the data transmitted through the first channel. The storage apparatus is used to process the data transmitted through the first channel, and the non-storage apparatus is used to process the data transmitted through the second channel. The slave controller of the host apparatus is used to virtualize the host apparatus as a slave apparatus for providing another host apparatus to access the storage apparatus serially connected with the host apparatus.

Description

Data routing system supporting dual master devices

The present invention relates to a data routing system and method, and more particularly to a data routing system that can support dual master devices to access data.

With the advancement of technology, the functions of computers tend to be diversified, and various peripheral devices are constantly being introduced. In order to facilitate the user to improve the computer performance or expand the computer function, the computer's motherboard is usually equipped with Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP), Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), and Fast PCI (PCI Express). , PCI-E) and other bus slots for users to insert expansion cards such as video cards, sound cards, and network cards. In addition, the computer will also be equipped with expansion interfaces such as Firewire and Universal Serial Bus (USB) for users to connect external devices such as hard disks and printers.

Recently, Intel Corporation of the United States introduced a new Thunderbolt interface that integrates both PCI-E and DisplayPort technologies to simultaneously transmit data and video streams over the same cable. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of data transmission of a lightning interface according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the lightning transmission technology provides two channels 122 and 124 as the PCI-E and the display port in the same cable 12 to respectively transmit data and video streams. By controlling the lightning controllers 14, 16 disposed at both ends of the cable 12, each channel is in two directions The transmission can reach 10 Gigabits per second (GigaBit, GB), so that the computer and peripheral devices can transfer data back and forth at high speed. The bandwidth provided by lightning transmission technology can also be cascaded in multiple Daisy-chains for multiple high-speed devices without the need for a hub or switch.

For example, FIG. 2 is a daisy-chain serial connection architecture of a conventional lightning interface. Referring to FIG. 2, in order to implement the daisy chain serial connection mode, the host 22 as the master terminal needs to be configured with a lightning interface 224 and a lightning controller 222 supporting dual channel transmission, and the subsequent series of lightning interface devices 24 and 26 And 28 need to configure more than two lightning interfaces 埠244, 246, 264, 266, 284, 286. Among them, since each lightning interface has two channels, a lightning controller 242, 262, 282 supporting four channels needs to be disposed in the lightning interface devices 24, 26, and 28, and the device is also added between the invisible devices. Cost of production.

However, the two channels of the lightning interface are only used to transmit data and video streams, and channel aggregation is not supported, which limits transmission performance. When the user-connected lightning device does not include the display related device, the channel for transmitting the video stream will be idle, and the high-cost configuration of the lightning interface and the lightning controller can only provide half of the transmission performance. Waste of resources. In addition, the daisy chain serial connection structure does not allow two master devices to coexist, and only one master device can transmit data with other serial devices, which also limits the application range of the lightning device.

In view of this, the present invention provides a data routing system supporting dual master devices, which can support dual master devices to access data of the storage devices.

The invention provides a data routing system supporting a dual master device, which comprises a first master device, at least one storage device and at least one non-storage device. The first main control device includes a first plug and a first socket adapted to transmit the first channel data, a second plug and a second socket adapted to transmit the second channel data, and a slave controller coupled to the first plug And a first hub coupled to the first socket, and a processor coupled to the slave controller and the first hub for processing data transmitted via the first channel. Each of the storage devices includes a third plug and a third socket adapted to transmit the first channel data, a fourth plug and a fourth socket adapted to transmit the second channel data, and the third plug and the third socket A second hub for processing data transmitted via the first channel, wherein the third plug is adapted to be inserted into the first socket and the fourth plug is adapted to be inserted into the second socket. Each of the non-storage devices includes a fifth plug and a fifth socket adapted to transmit the first channel data, a sixth plug and a sixth socket adapted to transmit the second channel data, and the sixth plug and the sixth socket A third hub for processing data transmitted via the second channel, wherein the fifth plug is adapted to be inserted into the first socket or the third socket, and the sixth plug is adapted to be inserted into the second socket or the fourth socket. The slave controller of the first master device virtualizes the first master device as a slave device to provide the second master device to access the storage device in series with the first master device.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first plug and the second plug are respectively connected to the second main control device to provide the second main control device through the first pass The channel accesses the storage device and accesses the non-storage device through the second channel.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the data routing system further includes an input and output expansion device, including a seventh socket for connecting the first plug, and an eighth socket for connecting the second plug, for connecting the second a seventh plug of the main control device, a fourth hub coupled to the seventh socket and the eighth socket, and an interface controller coupled to the fourth hub and the seventh plug. The fourth hub is configured to receive data of the first channel and the second channel received through the seventh socket and the eighth socket. The interface controller is configured to combine the data of the first channel and the second channel received by the fourth hub, and transmit the data to the second main control device through the seventh plug.

In an embodiment of the invention, the input/output expansion device further includes a graphics processing unit coupled to the interface controller for receiving and processing the graphics processing request by the second master device.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first main control device and the input/output expansion device comprise hardware anti-stay devices corresponding to each other, so that the first plug and the second plug of the first main control device can only be inserted into the input. The seventh socket and the eighth socket of the expansion device are output.

In an embodiment of the invention, the interface controller is a lightning controller that supports dual channel data transmission.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first main control device further includes a network module coupled to the processor and adapted to connect to the network to provide other devices on the network to be stored by the first host device. Take the data on the storage device.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first hub and the second set are The line device and the third hub are respectively coupled to the main body to access the main body and transmit the accessed data through the first channel.

In an embodiment of the invention, the storage device comprises a hard disk, a memory or a memory card, and the non-storage device comprises a graphics processing unit, a display, a CD player or a burner.

Based on the above, the data routing system supporting the dual master device of the present invention uses two data transmission channels to transmit data in the main control device, the at least one storage device, and the at least one non-storage device connected in series, except for the main control device. The slave connector configured on the storage device can also be virtualized as a slave device by providing access to the storage device by accessing the data on the storage device connected thereto through the first channel. Information on. In addition, the master device may also provide another master device to access the data on the non-storage device via the second channel. Thereby, the purpose of supporting the dual master device to access the storage device data can be achieved.

The above described features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description.

The invention arranges two sets of joints on the main control device, the storage device and the non-storage device respectively to provide two data transmission channels for transmitting data, wherein one channel is used for transmitting data of the storage device, and the other channel is used for transmitting non-transmission. Storage device information. The invention further configures a slave controller on the master device, thereby virtualizing the master device into one slave device, thereby providing another master device to access the serial device in the master device via the master device The subsequent storage device thereby achieves the purpose of supporting the dual master device to access the storage device data.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a data routing system supporting a dual master device according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the data routing system 30 of the present embodiment includes a main control device 32, a storage device 34, and a non-storage device 36. The storage device 34 is connected in series to the main control device 32, and the non-storage device 36 is connected in series to the storage device 34.

The main control device 32 is, for example, a terminal device such as a desktop computer, a notebook computer, or a workstation, and includes various input/output interfaces, and can connect peripheral devices and process programs executed by the user. The main control device 32 further includes a plug 321 and a socket 322 adapted to transmit the first channel data, a plug 323 and a socket 324 adapted to transmit the second channel data, a slave controller 325 coupled to the plug 321, and a hub coupled to the socket 322. 326, and a processor 327 coupled to the slave controller 325 and the hub 326 for processing data transmitted via the first channel. In addition, the hub 326 of the master device 32 is coupled to the main body 328, for example, a memory or a hard disk, and can store programs or other materials executed by the processor 327.

The storage device 34 includes a plug 341 and a socket 342 adapted to transmit the first channel data, a plug 343 and a socket 344 adapted to transmit the second channel data, and a plug 341 and a socket 342 for processing the transmission via the first channel. The hub of the data is 345. Wherein, when the storage device 34 is serially connected behind the main control device 32, its plug 341 is inserted into the socket 322 of the main control device 32, and the plug 343 is inserted into the socket 324 of the main control device 32.

The non-storage device 36 includes a plug 361 adapted to transmit the first channel data. And a socket 362, a plug 363 and a socket 364 adapted to transmit the second channel data, and a hub 365 coupled to the plug 363 and the socket 364 for processing the data transmitted via the second channel. Wherein, when the non-storage device 36 is serially connected to the storage device 34, its plug 362 is inserted into the socket 342 of the storage device 34, and the plug 363 is inserted into the socket 344 of the storage device 34.

It should be noted that the non-storage device 36 can also be connected in series behind the main control device 32. When the non-storage device 36 is connected in series behind the main control device 32, the plug 362 is inserted into the socket 322 of the main control device 32, and the plug The 363 is inserted into the socket 324 of the main control unit 32. In addition, although the single storage device 34 and the non-storage device 36 are taken as an example, the present embodiment is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the non-storage device 36 may be connected in series with other storage devices or non-storage devices. The storage device, and the serial connection sequence of the storage device and the non-storage device (including the storage device 34 and the non-storage device 36) connected in series after the main control device 32 can be arbitrarily changed without affecting the main control device 32 for these devices. Data access.

The above storage device is, for example, a hard disk, a memory or a memory card, and the non-storage device includes a graphic processing unit (GPU), a display, a CD player or a burner. The hub 345 of the storage device 34 and the hub 365 of the non-storage device 36 are respectively coupled to the main body 346, 366, for example, and can access the data on the main body and transmit the accessed data through the first channel. In addition, the plugs, sockets, and hubs described above, for example, all conform to the specifications of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or other transmission interface, and can be used to transmit data.

In the above system architecture, the processor 327 of the master device 32 can pass The material on storage device 34 is accessed and processed by the first channel (i.e., via hub 326, socket 322, plug 341, hub 345). In addition, the main control device 32 can also be configured with a network module supporting the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11x wireless communication standard or the third generation (3G) mobile communication protocol (not drawn It can provide a network connection function, so that the main control device 32 can be used as a cloud server, and other devices on the network can access the data on the storage device 34 connected in series by the main control device 32 through the network. .

On the other hand, the above-mentioned main control device 32 can also be serially connected to another main control device (not shown), and the main control device 32 can be virtualized as a slave device by the slave controller 325, thereby providing this. Another master device accesses the storage device 34 that it is in series with. The main control device 32 can be directly connected in series with another main control device or through an additionally configured input/output expansion device, and the utility model can support the dual main control device to access the storage device data. Each embodiment will be described in detail.

4 is a block diagram of a data routing system supporting a dual master device according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the data routing system 40 of the present embodiment includes another main control device serially connected to the main control device 32 in addition to the main control device 32, the storage device 34, and the non-storage device 36 in FIG. 42.

The main control device 42 includes a socket 421, a socket 422 and a processor 423. When the main control device 32 is connected to the main control device 42, the plug 321 is inserted into the socket 421 of the main control device 42 and the plug 323 is inserted. The socket 422 of the main control unit 42. The sockets 421 and 422 of the main control device 42 are respectively Connected to the processor 423, the processor 423 can access the data of the first channel and the second channel through the sockets 421 and 422.

In detail, the main control device 42 can access the data on the storage device 34 through the first channel 44 (via the main control device 32), and access the non-transmission through the second channel 46 (via the main control device 32 and the storage device 34). The data on the storage device 36. The master device 32 is virtualized by the slave controller 325 as a slave device, thereby providing the master device 42 with access to the storage device 34 connected thereto.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a data routing system supporting a dual master device according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the data routing system 50 of the present embodiment includes an input/output expansion device 52 connected in series with the main control device 32, in addition to the main control device 32, the storage device 34, and the non-storage device 36 in FIG. And a master device 54 connected in series with the input and output expansion device 52.

The input/output expansion device 52 includes a socket 521 for connecting the plug 321 of the main control device 32, a socket 522 for connecting the plug 323 of the main control device 32, a plug 523 for connecting the main control device 54, and a coupling socket. The hub 524 of the 521 and the socket 522, and the interface controller 525 coupled to the hub 524 and the plug 523. When the main control device 32 is connected in series to the input/output expansion device 52, the plug 321 is inserted into the socket 521 of the input/output expansion device 52, and the plug 323 is inserted into the socket 522 of the input/output expansion device 52. In addition, in an embodiment, the input/output expansion device 52 may further include a graphics processing unit (not shown) coupled to the interface controller 525 to receive and process the graphics processing request presented by the master device 54.

The hub 524 is configured to receive data of the first channel and the second channel received via the socket 521 and the socket 522. The interface controller 525 is, for example, a thunderbolt controller that supports dual channel data transmission, and is configured to combine the data of the first channel and the second channel received by the fourth hub 524 in one line and transmit through the plug 521. Transfer to the master device 54.

The main control device 54 includes a socket 541 and a processor 542. When the input/output expansion device 52 is serially connected to the main control device 54, the plug 523 is inserted into the socket 541 of the main control device 54, and the main control device 54 can be The socket 541 accesses the data of the first channel and the second channel. In detail, the main control device 54 can access the data on the storage device 34 through the first channel 56 (via the input and output expansion device 52 and the main control device 32), and through the second channel 58 (via the input and output expansion device 52, The master device 32 and the storage device 34) access the data on the non-storage device 36.

It should be noted that, in the above embodiment, the position of the main control device 32 must be at the forefront of the entire device to be connected in series with the input and output expansion device 52, and the main control device 54 is provided through the first channel and the second channel. The data of the storage device 34 and the non-storage device 36 are accessed. In order to ensure the above-mentioned serial connection mode, the present invention also provides a hardware foolproof design, so that the user can only place the main control device 32 at the forefront when stacking the device.

For example, FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a hardware foolproof design according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 6 , the main control device 32 , the storage device 34 , and the input/output expansion device 52 in FIG. 5 are taken as an example. The main control device 32 and the input/output expansion device 52 include, for example, hard corresponding to each other. a body anti-stay device to define the plug 321 and the plug of the main control device 32 The head 323 can only be inserted into the socket 521 and the socket 522 of the input/output expansion device 52. In addition, the main control device 32 and the input/output expansion device 52 further include, for example, a hardware foolproof device that can correspond to the storage device 34. Thereby, the main control device 32, the storage device 34, and the input/output expansion device 52 can be connected in series by the items (1) to (3) in FIG. 5, but cannot be serialized by the method of item (4) in FIG. 5. The connection is made to ensure that the main control unit 32 is located at the forefront of the entire tandem device.

In summary, the data routing system supporting the dual master device of the present invention transmits data by using two data transmission channels in the main control device, the storage device and the non-storage device connected in series with each other, and is in the main control device. The slave controller is configured to access the data in the storage device to provide another master device connected thereto, thereby allowing two master devices to exist in the same path to achieve dual master device access storage. The efficacy of the device data.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

12‧‧‧ Cable

122, 124‧‧‧ channels

14, 16, 222, 242, 262, 282‧‧‧Lightning controller

22‧‧‧Host

24, 26, 28‧‧ ‧ lightning interface device

224, 244, 246, 264, 266, 284, 286‧‧ ‧ lightning interface 埠

30, 40, 50‧‧‧ data routing system

32, 42, 54‧‧‧ master control device

321, 323, 341, 343, 361, 363, 523‧‧‧ plug

322, 324, 342, 344, 362, 364, 421, 422, 541, 521, 522‧‧‧ socket

325‧‧‧Subordinate controller

326, 345, 365, 524‧‧ ‧ Device

327, 423, 542‧‧ ‧ processors

328, 346, 366‧‧‧ subjects

34‧‧‧Storage device

36‧‧‧Non-storage device

44, 56‧‧‧ first channel

46, 58‧‧‧ second channel

52‧‧‧Input and output expansion device

525‧‧‧Interface controller

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of data transmission of a lightning interface according to an embodiment of the invention.

2 is a daisy-chain serial connection architecture of a conventional lightning interface.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a data routing system supporting a dual master device according to an embodiment of the invention.

4 is a block diagram of a data routing system supporting a dual master device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a data routing system supporting a dual master device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a hardware foolproof design according to an embodiment of the invention.

30‧‧‧Data Routing System

32‧‧‧Master control unit

321, 323, 341, 343, 361, 363‧‧‧ plug

322, 324, 342, 344, 362, 364‧‧ ‧ socket

325‧‧‧Subordinate controller

326, 345, 365‧‧ ‧ hub

327‧‧‧ processor

328, 346, 366‧‧‧ subjects

34‧‧‧Storage device

36‧‧‧Non-storage device

Claims (10)

A data routing system supporting a dual master device, comprising: a first master device, comprising: a first plug and a first socket, adapted to transmit data of a first channel; a second plug and a second a socket adapted to transmit data of a second channel; a slave controller coupled to the first plug; a first hub coupled to the first socket; and a processor coupled to the slave controller and the first a hub for processing data transmitted through the first channel; at least one storage device, each of the storage devices includes: a third plug and a third socket, adapted to transmit data of the first channel, the third plug is suitable Inserting the first socket; a fourth plug and a fourth socket adapted to transmit the data of the second channel, the fourth plug is adapted to be inserted into the second socket; a second hub coupled to the third plug And the third socket, processing the data transmitted through the first channel; and the at least one non-storage device, each of the non-storage devices comprising: a fifth plug and a fifth socket, adapted to transmit the data of the first channel The fifth The head is adapted to be inserted into the first socket or the third socket; a sixth plug and a sixth socket adapted to transmit data of the second channel, the sixth plug being adapted to be inserted into the second socket or the fourth socket ;as well as a third hub, coupled to the sixth plug and the sixth socket, processing data transmitted via the second channel, wherein the slave controller of the first master device comprises virtualizing the first master device into a The slave device provides a second master device connected to the first master device to access the storage device connected in series with the first master device. The data routing system of the dual master device as described in claim 1, wherein the first plug and the second plug are respectively connected to the second master device to provide the second master device to transmit the second master device Accessing the storage device in one channel and accessing the non-storage device through the second channel. The data routing system for supporting the dual master device as described in claim 1 further includes: an input/output expansion device, comprising: a seventh socket connected to the first plug; and an eighth socket connected to the first a second plug, connected to the second main control device; a fourth hub coupled to the seventh socket and the eighth socket, receiving the first channel received through the seventh socket and the eighth socket And the information of the second channel; the interface controller is coupled to the fourth hub and the seventh plug, and combines the data of the first channel and the second channel received by the fourth hub, and transmits the data through the seventh channel The plug is transmitted to the second main control device. Supporting dual master devices as described in item 3 of the patent application scope The data routing system, wherein the input/output expansion device further comprises: a graphics processing unit coupled to the interface controller to receive and process a graphics processing request by the second master device. The data routing system supporting the dual master device according to claim 3, wherein the first master device and the input/output expansion device comprise a hardware foolproof device corresponding to each other to define the first master The first plug and the second plug of the control device can only be inserted into the seventh socket and the eighth socket of the input/output expansion device. For example, the data routing system supporting the dual master device described in claim 3, wherein the interface controller is a lightning controller that supports dual channel data transmission. The data routing system of the dual master device as described in claim 1, wherein the first master device further includes: a network module coupled to the processor and adapted to connect to the network to provide Other devices on the network access the data on the storage device through the first master device. The data routing system of the dual master device of claim 1, wherein the first hub, the second hub, and the third hub are respectively coupled to a main body to access the main body and pass through the main body. The first channel transmits the accessed data. The data routing system supporting the dual master device according to claim 1, wherein the storage device comprises a hard disk, a memory or a memory card. The data routing system supporting the dual master device according to claim 1, wherein the non-storage device comprises a graphics processing unit, a display, a CD player or a programmer.