# Patent

## Title
Reduced pin gigabit media independent interface

## Abstract

A first device comprising: a pin interface having a plurality of pins; a data signal transmitter configured to respectively transmit, to a second device, a first plurality of data signals over a first set of pins of the plurality of pins of the pin interface; an encoder configured to generate a first encoded control signal based on having encoded a first plurality of control signals; and a control signal transmitter configured to transmit, to the second device, the first encoded control signal over a first pin of the plurality of pins of the pin interface, wherein the first pin is not of the first set of pins.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This present disclosure is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/837,152, filed on Jul. 15, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/228,960 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,760,725), filed Aug. 18, 2008, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/447,351 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,415,013), filed Jun. 6, 2006, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/072,323 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,065,075), filed Mar. 7, 2005, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/583,316 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,132), filed May 30, 2000.


INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
I.E.E.E. Standard 802.3, including all of its sections, is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reduced pin (gigabit) media independent interface, and a method of forming such an interface. More particularly, the invention relates to signal encoding and decoding techniques for reducing interface pin count.
2. Background Information
Interconnections between computers, peripheral devices, and Internet appliances (referred to as network clients) are ubiquitous. With networks firmly established in everyday life, there is now more demand in the form of increased data transfer rate and functionality being placed on the network switches and other hardware which facilitate network communication to support more complex applications such as multimedia. As a result, the integrated circuits (ICs) in these components are becoming more highly integrated and complex to meet this demand. One problem is that added complexity tends to increase external connections or pin count.
Conventional networks may utilize twisted pair cable such as Category 5 and operate at a data rate of either 10 megabits per second (Mb/s) which generally complies with I.E.E.E. Standard 802.3, section 14, commonly known as 10BASE-T, and 100 Mb/s which generally complies with I.E.E.E. Standard 802.3, sections 24 and 25, commonly known as 100BASE-TX. With the demand for increased data transfer rates, a newer networking standard has been proposed that utilizes twisted pair cable and operates at a nominal data transfer rate of 1 gigabit (1000 megabits) per second. The 1 gigabit per second (Gb/s) transfer rate complies with I.E.E.E. Standard 802.3, section 40, commonly known as 1000BASE-T.
These two standards have different requirements and interfaces. When the network is operated in accordance with 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX, the interface for interconnecting controllers and transceivers is defined in accordance with the a Media Independent Interface (MII). In either a 10BASE-T or a 100BASE-TX system, MII requires 16 connection lines or pins connecting the IC embodying the physical layers (PHY) to the IC embodying the media access controller layers (MAC). When the network is operated at a higher transmission rate in accordance with 1000BASE-T, the interface is defined by the Gigabit MII (GMII). Twenty-four connection lines or pins are required for 1000BASE-T.
The pin count problem in such systems becomes more apparent when we consider that a typical network switch has n ports, where n is the number of PHY and MAC layers respectively. Since the n MACs are typically fabricated as a single integrated circuit, the number of pins are 24×n. For example, if there are 24 ports then the n MACs requires 24×24 or 576 pins. A higher number of pins result in a larger die, a larger package, a more complicated integrated circuit and higher costs, particularly at the higher data transfer rates.
Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problem. Two ad hoc standards, namely Reduced Media Independent Interface (RMII) and Serial Media Independent Interface (SMII) reduce the number of pins by serialization techniques for 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX. The RMII technique requires 7 pins per port and the frequency doubles from 25 MHz to 50 MHz. Thus, for a 24 port switch, 7×24 or 168 pins are required. The SMII technique requires 2 pins per port plus 1 synchronizing pin, and the frequency increases five fold from 25 MHz to 125 MHz. In the SMII technique, 2×24+1 or 49 pins are required. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, these techniques operate at frequencies in which clock recovery between the PHY and MAC layers is not required.
While RMII and SMII provide reduced pin count interfaces, they are only applicable to 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX systems. Thus, there is a need for an effective interface that reduces pin or connection count in a 1000BASE-T system without compromising functionality, and that also has the flexibility to be used in 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX systems as well.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a network interface which reduces the number of pins or connections without compromising functionality.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a reduced pin media independent interface, such as a reduced pin gigabit media independent interface (reduced pin GMII).
According to one aspect of the invention, a method of encoding signals for a network device is provided. The method comprises the steps of: transmitting a clock signal; forming a transmit control signal comprising in one half of a cycle of the clock signal a transmit enable signal and comprising in the other half of the cycle of the clock signal a transmit error signal; transmitting the transmit control signal; and transmitting a data signal.
The signal encoding is preferably as follows. When the transmit enable signal is asserted, the data signal comprises one of packet data and symbol error data. When neither the transmit enable signal nor the transmit error signal are asserted in a cycle of the clock signal, the data signal comprises idle data. When the transmit enable signal is asserted and the transmit error signal is not asserted in a cycle of the clock signal, the data signal comprises packet data. When both the transmit enable signal and the transmit error signal are asserted in a cycle of the clock signal, the data signal comprises symbol error data. When the transmit enable signal is not asserted and the transmit error signal is asserted in a cycle of the clock signal, the data signal comprises one of carrier extension data and carrier extension data with error.
According to another aspect, the invention involves a method of decoding signals for a network device, comprising the steps of: receiving a clock signal; receiving a receive control signal; decoding the receive control signal comprising in one half of a cycle of the clock signal a receive data valid signal or a carrier sense signal and in the other half of the cycle of the clock signal a receive error signal; and receiving a data signal.
The method preferably further comprising the step of decoding a preamble from the received data signal.
The signal decoding is preferably as follows. When the one half of the receive control signal is in a first state (i.e., not asserted) and the other half of the receive control signal is in the first state, the preamble is set to a first condition (e.g., not present). When the one half of the receive control signal is in a second state (i.e., asserted), the other half of the receive control signal is in the first state, and the preamble is in the first condition, a carrier sense signal is in the second state. When the one half of the receive control signal is in the second state, the other half of the receive control signal is in the first state, the preamble is in the first condition, and the received data signal comprises first predetermined data, then the preamble is set to the second condition and subsequent received data is decoded. When the one half of the receive control signal is in the second state, the other half of the receive control signal is in the first state, and the preamble is in a second condition (i.e., present), then the received data signal comprises packet data. When the one half of the receive control signal is in the second state, the other half of the receive control signal is in the second state, and the received data signal comprises second predetermined data, then a false carrier is asserted. When the one half of the receive control signal is in the second state, the other half of the receive control, signal is in the second state, and the received data signal comprises first predetermined data, then a symbol error is asserted. When the one half of the receive control signal is in the first state, the other half of the receive control signal is in the second state, and the received data signal comprises one of third and fourth predetermined data, then the preamble is set to the first condition and a carrier extension is asserted.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a method of decoding signals for a network device is provided. The method comprises the steps of receiving a clock signal; receiving a transmit control signal; decoding the transmit control signal comprising in a half of a cycle of the clock signal a transmit enable signal and in the other half of the cycle of the clock signal a transmit error signal; and receiving a data signal.
The decoding scheme is preferably as follows. When the transmit enable is asserted, the data signal comprises one of packet data and symbol error data. When neither the transmit enable signal nor the transmit error signal are asserted in a cycle of the clock signal, the data signal comprises idle data. When the transmit enable signal is asserted and the transmit error signal is not asserted in a cycle of the clock signal, the data signal comprises packet data. When both the transmit enable signal and the transmit error signal are asserted in a cycle of the clock signal, the data signal comprises a symbol error data. When the transmit enable signal is not asserted and the transmit error signal is asserted in a cycle of the clock signal, the data signal comprises one of carrier extension data and carrier extension data with error.
According to still another aspect, the invention involves a method of: encoding signals for a network device, comprising the steps of: transmitting a clock signal; encoding a receive control signal comprising in one half of a cycle of the clock signal a receive data valid signal or a carrier sense signal and in the other half of the cycle of the clock signal a receive error signal; transmitting the receive control signal; and transmitting a data signal.
The method preferably further comprises the step of encoding a preamble for the data signal.
The encoding scheme is preferably as follows. When a carrier sense signal is in a second state (i.e., asserted), the one half of the receive control signal is set to the second state, and the other half of the receive control signal is set to a first state (i.e., not asserted). When a subsequent data signal containing packet data is to be transmitted, the one half of the receive control signal is set to the second state, the other half of the receive control signal is set to the first state, and a current data signal is set to first predetermined data. When the data signal comprises packet data, the one half of the receive control signal is set to the second state, and the other half of the receive control signal is set to the first state. When a false carrier is asserted, the one half of the receive control signal is set to the second state, the other half of the receive control signal is set to the second state, and the received data signal is set to second predetermined data. When a symbol error is asserted, the one half of the received control signal is set to the second state, the second half of the receive control signal is set to the second state, and the receive data signal is set to first predetermined data. When a carrier extension is asserted, the one half of the receive control signal is set to the first state, the other half of the receive control signal is set to the second state, and the received data signal is set to one of third and fourth predetermined data.
Other aspects of the invention include various networking devices for implementing the signal encoding and/or decoding schemes described above, and an interface signaling protocol by which the signal encoding/decoding schemes operate.
Other objects and attainments together with a fuller understanding of the invention will become apparent and appreciated by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used to designate like elements, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a networking system in which aspects of the present invention may be employed.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another networking system in which aspects of the present invention may be employed.
FIG. 3 is a detailed schematic diagram of an interface between a media access controller (MAC) and a physical layer (PHY) in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 is a detailed schematic diagram of an interface between a media access controller (MAC) and a physical layer (PHY) in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a timing diagram illustrating the relationship between a control signal and its corresponding clock signal in accordance with embodiments of the invention.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 is schematic diagram of a typical networking system in which embodiments of the present invention may be employed. A computer 10 is connected to a first port of switch 20 via a communications channel, such as, twisted pair cable 30. Switch 20 may comprise 24 ports, to allow computer 10 to communicate with other computers, peripherals, network appliances and other networks. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, communication channel 30 may be implemented using a variety of techniques, such as wired, wireless, radio frequency, optical or the like.
Computer 10 comprises a media access controller or MAC 12 and physical layer interface (PRY) or transceiver 16, which are connected to each other by an interface defined by, for example, the MII for 10BASE-T standard and for 100BASE-TX standard, or the GMII for 1000BASE-T standard. MII for 10BASE-T standard and for 100BASE-TX standard are discussed at I.E.E.E. standard 802.3, section 22. The Gigabit Media Independent Interface (GMII) is defined by I.E.E.E. 802.3 section 35. Both of these sections of I.E.E.E. 802.3 are incorporated by reference herein.
MAC 12 controls media access of transmitting and receiving packets to and from computer 10. Typically for gigabit level products, MAC 12 and PHY 16 are implemented as individual integrated circuits.
Switch 20 comprises MAC 22n and PHY 26n, which are respectively connected to each other in accordance with an interface as defined above. MAC 22n and PHY 26n are functionally similar to MAC 12 and PHY 16 of computer 10.
If MII is used, data is passed to and from MAC 22n in 4 bit wide nibbles. The nibbles are converted to and from 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX on the network side. If GMII is used, data is passed to and from MAC 22n in 8 bit wide bytes. The bytes are converted to and from 1000BASE-T on the network side. Note that if fiber is used on the network side then the bytes are converted to and from 1000BASE-X on the network side. In other words, the MII/GMII provides a standard interface from a MAC to a transceiver regardless of the actual protocol used on the network side.
Referring now to FIG. 2, another networking environment in which the present invention may be practiced is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 2, computer 10 is connected to a first port of switch 20′ via a communications channel, such as twisted pair cable 30. Switch 20′ may comprise 24 ports to allow computer 10 to communicate with other computers, peripherals, network appliances and other networks.
Computer 10 comprises a media access controller or (MAC) 12 and physical layer interface (PHY) or transceiver 16, which are connected to each other in accordance with an interface, such as, for example, MII or GMII discussed above. MAC 12, computer 10, and PHY 16 are similar to those described above in connection with FIG. 1.
Switch 20′ comprises n ports. Each of the n ports comprises MAC 22′n and PHY 26′n. PHY 26′n comprises serializer interface 27n, and MAC 22′n comprises serializer interface 28n, which are connected to each other to facilitate communication between MAC 22′n and PHY 26′n. Serializer interfaces 281-28n and MACs 22′1-22′n are fabricated on a single integrated circuit. PHY 26′n and serializer interface 27n are fabricated on another integrated circuit.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a schematic diagram of a reduced pin interface 32 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, interface 32 reduces the number of pins or connections in an MII interface between a MAC 22n/22′n and a PHY 26n/26′n by encoding and decoding various MII signals, as described below.
Conventional MII design includes five groups of signals: transmit signals; receive signals; control signals; management signals; and power signals. As shown in FIG. 3, the transmit signals include a nibble-wide Transmit Data (TXD [3:0]), plus associated Transmit Clock (TX_CLK), Transmit Enable (TX_EN), and Transmit Error (TX_ER) signals. The data is synchronous with the clock, which has a rate one-fourth that of the data rate (that is, 25 MHz for a 100 Mb/s Ethernet and 2.5 MHz for a 10 Mb/s Ethernet). Transmit signals are used to move data from the controller to the transceiver for encoding and transmission on the LAN.
As shown in FIG. 3, MII receive signals include a nibble-wide Receive Data (RXD [3:0]), plus associated Receive Clock (RX_CLK), Receive Data Valid (RX_DV), and Receive Error (RX_ER) signals. The data is synchronous with the clock, the rate of which is one-fourth that of the data rate. Receive signals are used to move decoded data from the transceiver to the controller.
Ethernet control signals include Carrier Sense (CRS) and Collision Detect (COL) signals generated by the transceiver and used by the controller for medium access control, as shown in FIG. 3. These signals are used only in half-duplex mode; they are ignored in full-duplex mode.
There are two management signals (not shown), which include a serial management I/O signal (MDIO) and an associated clock (MDC). Management information is exchanged (bidirectionally) between the controller and the transceiver for configuration and control.
A VDC power supply (not shown) is provided by the controller for operating the transceiver. A return path is provided for both the power and the logic signals.
In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, interface 32 employs the following signals: TXD [3:0]; TX_CLK; TX_CTRL; RXD [3:0]; RX_CLK, and RX_CTRL. These signals are used to reduce the interface connections or pins between MAC 22n/22′n and PHY 26n/26′n. TX_CTRL and RX_CTRL are control signals that are used to carry information previously carried on multiple signals. TX_CTRL and RX_CTRL run at either a rate of 5 Mb/s in which case TX_CLK and RX_CLK run at 2.5 MHz, or at rate of 50 Mb/s in which case TX_CLK and RX_CLK run at 25 MHz. The relationship between each of these CTRL signals and its corresponding CLK signal is illustrated by the timing diagram in FIG. 5.
On its interface transmit side, MAC 22n/22′n comprises a plurality of transmitting circuits including a data signal transmitter 42 that transmits TXD [3:0], a clock transmitter 44 that transmits TX_CLK, and a control signal transmitter 46 that transmits an encoded TX_CTRL signal. MAC 22n/22′n also includes an encoder 48 that forms the encoded TX_CTRL signal, as described below.
A corresponding set of receiver circuits are provided on the interface receive side of PHY 26n/26′n. These circuits include a data signal receiver 52 that receives the TXD [3:0], a clock receiver 54 that receives TX_CLK, and a control signal receiver 56 that receives the encoded TX_CTRL signal. PHY 26n/26′n also includes a decoder that decodes TX_CTRL, as described below.
TX_CTRL alternates between transmitting TX_EN and TX_ER. In a preferred embodiment, the encoding is as follows. When TX_CTRL is 0 during a full TX_CLK cycle, any data on the data lines is idle data. When TX_CTRL is 1 during one (e.g., the first) half of a TX_CLK cycle, the type of data on the data lines depends on the value of TX_CTRL during the other (e.g., the second) half of that TX_CLK cycle and the bits on the data lines, A TX_CTRL value of 0 during the other half of the TX_CLK cycle for any data on the data lines indicates that such data is packet data. A TX_CTRL value of 1 during the other half of the TX_CLK cycle with the data lines carrying a 0101 sequence means that such data is symbol error data. The signal encoding/decoding is summarized in Table 1 below.












TABLE 1







One (e.g.,
Other (e.g.,





first) half of 
second) half of





TX_CLK
TX_CLK





















TX_CTRL
TX_CTRL
TXD
Definition





[3:0]




0
0
xxxx
Idle



0
0
xxxv
Inband signaling






v






0 = 10BASE-T






1 = 100BASE-TX



1
0
xxxx
Packet Data



1
1
0101
Symbol Error










Turning now to the receive signals, on its interface receive side, MAC 22n/22′n comprises a plurality of receiver circuits including a data signal receiver 62 that receives RXD [3:0], a clock receiver 64 that receives RX_CLK, and a control signal receiver 66 that receives an encoded RX_CTRL signal. MAC 22n/22′n also includes a decoder 68 that is in communication with a state machine controller 69 for decoding the encoded RX_CTRL signal, as described below.
Corresponding transmitter circuits are provided on the interface transmit side of PHY 26n/26′n. Such circuits include a data signal transmitter 72 that transmits RXD [3:0], a clock transmitter 74 that transmits RX_CLK, and a control signal transmitter 76 that transmits the encoded RX_CTRL signal. PHY 26n/26′n also includes an encoder 78 that operates in connection with a state machine controller 79 to encode the RX_CTRL signal.
In the encoding/decoding scheme, the logical OR of RX_DV and CRS is carried by RX_CTRL in one (e.g., the first) half of a cycle of RX_CLK, and RX_ER is carried by RX_CTRL in the other (e.g., the second) half of that RX_CLK cycle. To distinguish between RX_DV and CRS, RXD [3:0] is decoded by the controller. Normally, CRS is asserted before RX_DV. Hence, during the time between assertion of CRS and assertion of RX_DV, RXD [3:0] should be 0000. Since a packet of data starts with a 0101 pattern, the assertion of RX_DV can be denoted by a transition of RXD [3:0] from 0000 to 0101. An error condition may occur which causes CRS to assert. This is known as a false carrier which can be denoted by a transition of RXD [3:0] from 0000 to 1010.
The signal encoding/decoding scheme for the receive signals is described by a state machine algorithm implemented by state machine controllers 69 and 79 as set forth in Table 2 below. It should be noted that a preamble is an initial eight bit sequence of 10101010 of an uncoded data packet.











TABLE 2






Other 





One
(e.g.,





(e.g., first)
second)





half of
half of





RX_CLK
X_CLK



















RX_CTRL
RX_CTRL
RXD 
Preamble
Definition




[3:0]
Present?



0 
0
xxxx 
x
Set “Preamble






Present?” to No; Idle


0 
0
pqxs
x
Inband signaling






p






0 = half-duplex






1 = full-duplex






q






0 = link down






1 = link up






s






0 = 10BASE-T






1 = 100BASE-TX


1 
0
0000
No
CRS asserted but no






data yet


1 
0
0101
No
Set “Preamble






Present” to Yes;






Decode data


1 
0
xxxx
Yes
Packet Data


1 
1 
1010 
x
False Carrier


1 
1
0101
x
Symbol Error









The COL pin or connection is also eliminated, as this signal is represented by (TX_EN OR TX_ER) AND CRS.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a schematic diagram of a reduced pin interface 32′ constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, interface 32′ reduces the number of pins or connections in a GMII interface in a similar manner as described above. However, in this embodiment, the signal encoding and decoding techniques are applied to GMII signals.
Logically, GMII is identical to MIL and most of the signals used the same names. However, there are several differences. The GMII data path is byte-wide rather than nibble-wide. In conventional GMII signaling, this reduces the GMII clock from 250 MHz (if the data path were nibble-wide) to 125 MHz. In addition, the clock is sourced from the controller, rather than the transceiver as is the case with MII. This is done to eliminate timing errors due to propagation delays of the ICs and circuit tracers used implement the interface. A brief description of the conventional GMII signals is given below.
As shown in FIG. 4, TXD [7:0] is the byte-wide data transmission signal, which is synchronous with a Gigabit Transmit Clock (GTX_CLK) signal that runs at a nominal rate of 125 MHz for data transmission. A Transmit Enable (TX_EN) signal indicates when valid data is present on TXD lines, and a Transmit Error (TX_ER) signal is used to propagate errors through a repeater in shared, half-duplex LANs. Both TX_EN and TX_ER are synchronous with GTX_CLK.
As for the receive signals, there is RXD [7:0], the byte-wide data receive signal which is synchronous with a Receive Clock (RX_CLK) signal that is a recovered clock (125 MHz, nominal) from received data. A Receive Data Valid (RX_DV) signal indicates when valid data is present on the RXD lines, and a Receive Error (RX_ER) signal indicates that an error was detected while received data was being decoded. Both RX_DV and RX_ER are synchronous with RX_CLK. These signals are illustrated in FIG. 4.
As shown in FIG. 4, there are two Ethernet control signals, both of which are asynchronous. A Carrier Sense (CRS) signal indicates when the physical layer channel is active, either with a received or transmitted signal. A Collision Detect (COL) signal indicates when one or more other stations are concurrently transmitting on the channel.
Management signals (not shown) include a Management Data Input/Output (MDIO) signal that is used to transmit and receive management information between the controller and transceiver. Also included is a Management Data Clock (MDC) used for management data exchange. There is also a VDC power supply (not shown).
The encoding/decoding scheme for the GMII signals, in accordance with this embodiment of the invention, is similar to that described above with respect to the MII signals in the previous embodiment, in that two control signals TX_CTRL and RX_CTRL are used to carry information previously carried on multiple signals. In this embodiment, TX_CTRL and RX_CTRL are each run at 250 Mb/s, with TX_CLK and RX_CLK being run at 125 MHz. The relationship between each of these CTRL signals and its corresponding CLK signal is illustrated by the timing diagram in FIG. 5. However, in this embodiment, TX_CTRL and RX_CTRL also encode for Carrier Extension and Carrier Extension with error data. In addition, the byte-wide data path is folded from 8 signals to 4 by running the data at twice the rate that it is normally run.
In this embodiment, MAC 22n/22′n and PHY 26n/26′n each include transmitter and receiver circuits for the interface signals, an encoder, a decoder, and a state machine controller. Each of these circuits is identified with the primed version of same reference numeral used to identify the corresponding component in the previous embodiment.
The folding of the incoming TXD [7:0] and RXD [7:0] signals to TXD [3:0] and RXD [3:0] signals respectively and unfolding of these nibble-wide data paths to the corresponding outgoing byte-wide data paths may be performed by appropriate circuitry embodied in MAC 22n/22′n and PHY 26n/26′n.
In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the encoding/decoding of the transmit signals is as follows. TX_CTRL alternates between transmitting TX_EN and TX_ER, as in the previous embodiment. In a preferred embodiment, the encoding is as follows. When TX_CTRL is 0 during a full TX_CLK cycle, any data on the data lines is idle data. When TX_CTRL is 1 during one (e.g., the first) half of a TX_CLK cycle, the type of data on the data lines depends on the value of TX_CTRL during the other (e.g., the second) half of that TX_CLK cycle and the bits on the data lines. A TX_CTRL value of 0 during the other half of the TX_CLK cycle for any data on the data lines indicates that such data is packet data. A TX_CTRL value of 1 during the other half of the TX_CLK cycle with the data lines carrying a 0101 sequence means that such data is symbol error data. When TX_CTRL is 0 during one half of a TX_CLK cycle and 1 during the other half of that cycle, the meaning of the data on the data lines depends on the bits on the data lines. Data sequence 0111 indicates Carrier Extend data, while data sequence 1111 indicates Carrier Extend data with error. The encoding/decoding is summarized in Table 3 below.










TABLE 3





One (e.g.,
Other (e.g.,




first) half of 
second) half of




TX_CLK
TX_CLK


















TX_CTRL
TX_CTRL
TXD 
Definition




[3:0]



0
0
xxxx
Idle


0
0
xxuv
Inband signaling





uv





00 = 10BASE-T





01 = 100BASE-TX





10 = 1000BASE-T





11 = reserved


1
0
xxxx
Packet Data


1
1
0101
Symbol Error


0
1
0111
Carrier Extension


0
1
1111
Carrier Extension





with Error









The encoding/decoding of the receive signals is also similar to that described in connection with the previous embodiment, in that the logical OR of RX_DV and CRS is carried by RX_CTRL in one (e.g., the first) half of a cycle of RX_CLK, and RX_ER is carried by RX_CTRL in the other (e.g., the second) half of that RX_CLK cycle. To distinguish between RX_DV and CRS, RXD [3:0] is decoded by the controller. Normally, CRS is asserted before RX_DV. Hence, during the time between assertion of CRS and assertion of RX_DV, RXD [3:0] should be 0000. Since a packet of data starts with a 0101 pattern, the assertion of RX_DV can be denoted by a transition of RXD [3:0] from 0000 to 0101. An error condition may occur which causes CRS to assert. This is known as a false carrier which can be denoted by a transition of RXD [3:0] from 0000 to 1010.
Carrier extension can be denoted by forcing the first half of RX_CTRL, which is RX_DV or CRS, to a low state and the second half, which is RX_ER, to a high state, with RXD [3:0] encoded as 0111 or Carrier Extension with error as 1111.
The signal encoding/decoding scheme for the receive signals is described by a state machine algorithm implemented by state machine controllers 69′ and 79′ as set forth in Table 4 below. It should be noted that a preamble is an initial eight bit sequence of 10101010 of an uncoded data packet.











TABLE 4





One
Other (e.g.,





(e.g., first) 
second)





half of
half of





RX_CLK
X_CLK



















RX_CTRL
RX_CTRL
RXD
Preamble
Definition




[3:0]
Present?



0
0
xxxx
X
Set “Preamble






Present” to No; Idle


0
0
pqrs
x
Inband signaling






p






0 = half-duplex






1 = full-duplex






q






0 = link down






1 = link up






rs






00 = 10BASE-T






01 = 100BASE-TX






10 = 1000BASE-T






11 = reserved


1
0
0000
No 
CRS asserted but no






data yet


1
0
0101
No
Set “Preamble






Present?” to Yes;






Decode subsequent






data


1
0
xxxx
Yes
Packet Data


1
1
1010
X
False Carrier


1
1
0101
X
Symbol Error


0
1
0111
X
Set “Preamble






Present?” to No; Carrier






Extension


0
1
1111 
X
Set “Preamble






Present?” to No; Carrier






Extension with error









As in the previously described embodiment, the COL pin or connection is also eliminated, as this signal is represented by (TX_EN OR TX_ER) AND CRS.
Although interface 32 is shown in connection with MII signals and interface 32′ with GMII signals, either interface may be used for 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX or 1000BASE-T, in either half- or full-duplex mode. To this end, both of the interfaces 32 and 32′ employ inband signaling to avoid contention on TX_CLK, since PHY 26n/26′n sources TX_CLK in 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX operation and MAC 22n/22′n sources it in 1000BASE-T operation. Such inband signaling allows the PHY to inform the MAC at what speed and on what duplex the link is operating. It also allows the MAC to inform the PHY that it is ready for operation at a certain speed and duplex. To prevent contention as to TX_CLK sourcing in 10/100 operation, the PHY will not source the TX_CLK until the uv bits from the MAC matches the rs bits sourced from the PHY. The inband signaling occurs when TX_CTRL is 0 for a full clock cycle and/or when RX_CTRL is 0 for a full clock cycle, as illustrated in Tables 1-4 above.
An alternate embodiment for avoiding contention on TX_CLK allows TX_CLK to be unidirectional. In this alternate embodiment, MAC 22n/22′n sources TX_CLK at 2.5, 25 or 125 MHz. Hence, there is no possibility that of contention on TX_CLK.
Thus, for this alternate TX_CLK reconciliation technique, TX_CLK in interface 32 would point in the opposite direction in FIG. 3 (i.e., to the right). In FIG. 4, TX_CLK is already sourced by the MAC; thus, there would be no change in the TX_CLK signal direction in this figure. A transmit FIFO circuit in PHY 26n/26′n is used to reconcile data with the TX_CLK signal.
It should be noted that the invention is not limited to the specific encoding schemes identified above. Rather, other encodings can be used. For example, TX_CTRL can be coded such that the 1/0 and 0/1 conditions are swapped. Similarly, RX_CTRL can be coded such that either the first or second 1/0 condition can be switched with either of the 1/1 conditions. This can be done because a “no error” case occurs more often than an “error” case. A 1/0 causes toggling on every cycle whereas a 1/1 does not. Coding of TX_CTRL and RX_CTRL in this manner also reduces power.
It should be readily apparent from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a network interface which reduces pin count by logically combining certain signals to eliminate redundancies, thereby enabling one pin to perform the functions previously performed by multiple pins. In particular, the present invention reduces the two connections previously used for TX_EN and TX_ER to a single TX_CTRL connection. Similarly, the invention reduces the three connections for RX_DV, CRS and RX_ER to a single RX_CTRL connection. The COL connection is also eliminated.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, many further alternatives, modifications, variations and applications will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. For example, although the present invention has particular utility in connection with an Ethernet infrastructure operating in accordance with Ethernet standards and protocols, the invention is not so limited. The invention may also be employed with other network standards and protocols. Moreover, the present invention is not limited to the nominal 1 Gb/s data transmission rate and protocols. Thus, the invention described herein is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, variations and applications as may fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

## Claims

1. A first device comprising:
a pin interface having a plurality of pins;
a data signal transmitter configured to respectively transmit, to a second device, a first plurality of data signals over a first set of pins of the plurality of pins of the pin interface;
an encoder configured to generate a first encoded control signal based on having encoded a first plurality of control signals;
a control signal transmitter configured to transmit, to the second device, the first encoded control signal over a first pin of the plurality of pins of the pin interface, wherein the first pin is not of the first set of pins;
a data signal receiver configured to respectively receive, from the second device, a second plurality of data signals over a second set of pins of the plurality of pins of the pin interface;
a control signal receiver configured to receive, from the second device, a second encoded control signal over a second pin of the plurality of pins of the pin interface, wherein the second pin is not of the first set of pins or the second set of pins; and
a decoder configured to generate a second plurality of control signals based on having decoded the second encoded control signal.

2. The first device of claim 1, wherein a total number of the first plurality of control signals is equal to a total number of the second plurality of control signals.

3. The first device of claim 2, wherein:
the first device is a media access controller (MAC); and
the second device is a physical layer (PHY).

4. The first device of claim 2, wherein:
the first device is a physical layer (PHY); and
the second device is a media access controller (MAC).

5. The first device of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of control signals comprises Ethernet control signals.

6. The first device of claim 1, wherein:
the data signal transmitter is configured to fold the first plurality of signals prior to transmitting the first plurality of signals over the first set of pins of the plurality of pins of the pin interface; and
the data signal receiver configured to unfold the second plurality of data signals subsequent to receiving the second plurality of data signals over the second set of pins.

7. The first device of claim 1, wherein the data signal transmitter is configured to transmit the first plurality of data signals to the second device at a data transfer rate of 10 megabits per second.

8. The first device of claim 1, wherein the data signal transmitter is configured to transmit the first plurality of data signals to the second device at a data transfer rate of 100 megabits per second.

9. The first device of claim 1, wherein the data signal transmitter is configured to transmit the first plurality of data signals to the second device at a data transfer rate of 1 gigabit per second.

10. A method for transmitting data and receiving signals over a pin interface of a first device, wherein the pin interface comprises a plurality of pins, the method comprising:
respectively transmitting, to a second device, a first plurality of data signals over a first set of pins of the plurality of pins of the pin interface;
generating a first encoded control signal based on having encoded a first plurality of control signals;
transmitting, to the second device, the first encoded control signal over a first pin of the plurality of pins of the pin interface, wherein the first pin is not of the first set of pins;
respectively receiving, from the second device, a second plurality of data signals over a second set of pins of the plurality of pins of the pin interface;
receiving, from the second device, a second encoded control signal over a second pin of the plurality of pins of the pin interface, wherein the second pin is not of the first set of pins or the second set of pins; and
generating a second plurality of control signals based on having decoded the second encoded control signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a total number of the first plurality of control signals is equal to a total number of the second plurality of control signals.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:
the first device is a media access controller (MAC); and
the second device is a physical layer (PHY).

13. The method of claim 11, wherein:
the first device is a physical layer (PHY); and
the second device is a media access controller (MAC).

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first plurality of control signals comprises Ethernet control signals.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
folding the first plurality of signals prior to transmitting the first plurality of signals over the first set of pins of the plurality of pins of the pin interface; and
unfolding the second plurality of data signals subsequent to receiving the second plurality of data signals over the second set of pins.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting the first plurality of data signals to the second device comprises transmitting the first plurality of data signals at a data transfer rate of 10 megabits per second.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting the first plurality of data signals to the second device comprises transmitting the first plurality of data signals at a data transfer rate of 100 megabits per second.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting the first plurality of data signals to the second device comprises transmitting the first plurality of data signals at a data transfer rate of 1 gigabit per second.