Peer-to-peer network communications using SATA/SAS technology

Abstract

A conventional serial communications protocol that is limited to supporting only host-to-slave communications, such as SATA or SAS, is extended to support peer-to-peer communications, e.g., by adding a memory-map layer into the conventional protocol stack between the link layer and the protocol layer. The addition of the memory-map layer enables two (or more) non-host devices (i.e., peer devices) to communicate with one another without using a host computer and without relying on conventional protocol-bridging techniques.

1 . A first device having a transceiver adapted to communicate data via a link with at least one other device in accordance with a protocol stack of an extended protocol, the protocol stack of the extended protocol comprising: 
 one or more lower-level stack layers;    one or more higher-level stack layers, wherein the one or more lower-level stack layers and the one or more higher-level stack layers form at least a portion of a protocol stack of an unextended protocol for non peer-to-peer communication; and    a memory-map layer between the one or more lower-level stack layers and the one or more upper-level stack layers, wherein the memory-map layer extends the unextended protocol to the extended protocol for peer-to-peer communication.    
   
   
       2 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the one or more lower-level stack layers comprise a physical medium device (PMD) layer and a link layer; and    the one or more higher-level stack layers comprise a command/transport layer and an application layer.    
   
   
       3 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the unextended protocol supports only host-to-slave communication.  
   
   
       4 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the unextended protocol is SATA.  
   
   
       5 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the unextended protocol is SAS.  
   
   
       6 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein neither the first device nor the other device is a host device.  
   
   
       7 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein neither the first device nor the other device is a programmable device having an operating system that supports programmability beyond a fixed set of pre-defined functions for said device.  
   
   
       8 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein implementation of at least one component of the first device adapted to handle signal processing at one of the one or more higher-level stack layers is identical to implementation of a corresponding component of the other device.  
   
   
       9 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the first and other devices are adapted to support the peer-to-peer communication without using a protocol-bridging technique.  
   
   
       10 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the link is a serial link.  
   
   
       11 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the link is a wired link.  
   
   
       12 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the link is a wireless link.  
   
   
       13 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the link functions as a bus; and    the first device is adapted to support peer-to-peer communication via the link with two or more other devices.    
   
   
       14 . The invention of  claim 13 , wherein the unextended protocol supports only point-to-point communication between no more than two devices.  
   
   
       15 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the one or more lower-level stack layers comprise a PMD layer and a link layer;    the one or more higher-level stack layers comprise a command/transport layer and an application layer;    the unextended protocol supports only host-to-slave communication;    the unextended protocol is SATA or SAS;    neither the first device nor the other device is a host device;    neither the first device nor the other device is a programmable device having an operating system that supports programmability beyond a fixed set of pre-defined functions for said device;    implementation of at least one component of the first device adapted to handle signal processing at one of the one or more higher-level stack layers is identical to implementation of a corresponding component of the other device;    the first and other devices are adapted to support the peer-to-peer communication without using a protocol-bridging technique;    the link is a serial link that functions as a bus;    the first device is adapted to support peer-to-peer communication via the link with two or more other devices; and    the unextended protocol supports only point-to-point communication between no more than two devices.    
   
   
       16 . A network comprising at least two devices, each having a transceiver, wherein: 
 the transceivers are adapted to communicate via a link in accordance with a protocol stack of an extended protocol; and    the protocol stack of the extended protocol comprises: 
 one or more lower-level stack layers;  
 one or more higher-level stack layers, wherein the one or more lower-level stack layers and the one or more higher-level stack layers form at least a portion of a protocol stack of an unextended protocol for non peer-to-peer communication; and  
 a memory-map layer between the one or more lower-level stack layers and the one or more upper-level stack layers, wherein the memory-map layer extends the unextended protocol to the extended protocol for peer-to-peer communication.  
   
   
   
       17 . The invention of  claim 16 , wherein the unextended protocol supports only host-to-slave communication.  
   
   
       18 . The invention of  claim 16 , wherein neither the first device nor the other device is a host device.  
   
   
       19 . The invention of  claim 16 , wherein the first and other devices are adapted to support the peer-to-peer communication without using a protocol-bridging technique.  
   
   
       20 . The invention of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the one or more lower-level stack layers comprise a PMD layer and a link layer;    the one or more higher-level stack layers comprise a command/transport layer and an application layer;    the unextended protocol supports only host-to-slave communication;    the unextended protocol is SATA or SAS;    neither the first device nor the other device is a host device;    neither the first device nor the other device is a programmable device having an operating system that supports programmability beyond a fixed set of pre-defined functions for said device;    implementation of at least one component of the first device adapted to handle signal processing at one of the one or more higher-level stack layers is identical to implementation of a corresponding component of the other device;    the first and other devices are adapted to support the peer-to-peer communication without using a protocol-bridging technique;    the link is a serial link that functions as a bus;    the first device is adapted to support peer-to-peer communication via the link with two or more other devices; and    the unextended protocol supports only point-to-point communication between no more than two devices.