Out of band data transfer over optical connections

Abstract

Provided herein are various devices for communicating out-of-band (OOB) signals. One device may comprise an in-band controller element, an out-of-band controller element and a modulation circuit operable to modulate a reference clock for the out-of-band signal, while another device may utilize a circuit operable to generate an out-of-band signal based on information carried by an Ethernet signal. Yet another device is operable to communicate according to an Ethernet communication protocol using an out-of-band signal.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A device for communication comprising:
 an in-band controller element operable to communicate according to an in-band communication protocol, the in-band communication protocol providing for an in-band signal;   an out-of-band controller element operable to communicate according to an out-of-band communication protocol, the out-of-band communication protocol providing for an out-of-band signal; and   a modulation circuit operably coupled to the in-band controller element and the out-of-band controller element, the modulation circuit configured to modulate a reference clock for the out-of-band signal, wherein the out-of-band signal comprises information received via the in-band signal.   
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31 , comprising:
 a Phase Locked Loop (PLL) circuit for receiving the in-band signal; and   a demodulation interface coupled to an out-of-band signal encoder for processing the in-band signal and generating the out-of-band signal based on the in-band signal.   
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the out-of-band communication protocol is a Serial Attached SCSI (SAS). 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the out-of-band communication protocol is a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA). 
     
     
         35 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the in-band communication protocol is Ethernet. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the modulation circuit is configured to generate the in-band signal according to information in the out-of-band signal. 
     
     
         41 . A device for communication comprising:
 an Ethernet controller element operable to communicate according to an Ethernet communication protocol using an Ethernet signal;   an out-of-band controller element operable to communicate according to an out-of-band communication protocol using an out-of-band signal; and   a circuit operably coupled to the Ethernet controller element and the out-of-band controller element, the circuit operable to receive the Ethernet signal and generate the out-of-band signal, wherein the out-of-band signal comprises information carried by the Ethernet signal.   
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 41 , wherein the circuit is operable to receive the out-of-band signal and generate the Ethernet signal, wherein the Ethernet signal comprises information carried by the out-of-band signal. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 41 , wherein the device comprises a modulation circuit operably coupled to the Ethernet controller element, the modulation circuit configured to modulate a reference clock for the out-of-band signal. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 41  comprising:
 a Phase Locked Loop (PLL) circuit for receiving the in-band signal; and 
 a demodulation interface coupled to an out-of-band signal encoder for processing the in-band signal and generating the out-of-band signal based on the in-band signal. 
 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 41 , wherein the out-of-band communication protocol is a Serial Attached SCSI (SAS). 
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 41 , wherein the out-of-band communication protocol is a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA). 
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 41 , wherein the out-of-band communication protocol controls a storage system. 
     
     
         48 . A device for communication comprising:
 an Ethernet controller element operable to communicate according to an Ethernet communication protocol using an in-band Ethernet signal and an out-of-band Ethernet signal; and   a circuit operably coupled to the Ethernet controller element, the circuit operable to receive the in-band Ethernet signal and generate the out-of-band Ethernet signal, wherein the out-of-band Ethernet signal comprises information carried by the in-band Ethernet signal.   
     
     
         49 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein the out-of-band Ethernet signal is distinct from the in-band Ethernet signal in at least one characteristic. 
     
     
         50 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein the device comprises a modulation circuit operably coupled to the Ethernet controller element, the modulation circuit configured to modulate a reference clock for the out-of-band Ethernet signal. 
     
     
         51 . The device of  claim 48  comprising:
 a Phase Locked Loop (PLL) circuit for receiving the in-band Ethernet signal; and 
 a demodulation interface coupled to an out-of-band Ethernet signal encoder for processing the in-band Ethernet signal and generating the out-of-band Ethernet signal based on the in-band Ethernet signal. 
 
     
     
         52 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein the device is operable to communicate according to an out-of-band communication protocol that is distinct from the Ethernet communication protocol. 
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein the out-of-band controller element is operable to control a storage system. 
     
     
         54 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein the circuit is operable to receive the out-of-band Ethernet signal and generate the in-band Ethernet signal according to information carried by the out-of-band Ethernet signal.