Patent ID: 8196013
Filing Date: 2012-06-05
Classification: G06F,H03M

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a midpoint device utilizing an Input/Output (I/O) interconnect, wherein the midpoint device contains a plurality of ports, the method comprising: receiving a request to initiate a session between a device on a first port of the midpoint device and a device on a second port of the midpoint device, wherein the session is initiated so that communications between the device on the first port and the device on the second port utilize the feature for the portion of the communications conducted between the device on the first port and the midpoint device, wherein the session is initiated such that communications between the first device and second device are performed at a level representing a greatest common factor of the level at which the particular capability can be provided by the first port and the level at which the particular capability can be provided by the second port, independent of the other ports; retrieving information regarding whether the first port supports a feature, and information regarding whether the second port supports the feature; and when the first port supports the feature and the second port does not support the feature, permitting the session to be initiated, such that communications between the first device and the second device are performed partially using the feature, independently of support of the feature on other ports.