Host/client system having a scalable serial bus interface

Abstract

According to one exemplary embodiment, a system is provided. The system includes a system bridge, a host module including a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the system bridge, a scalable serial bus coupled to the system bridge, a client controller coupled to the system bridge via the scalable serial bus, and first and second clients coupled to the client controller. The client controller is configured to interpret a communication received from the CPU and to provide the communication to the first client or to the second client based on a content of the communication. The scalable serial bus is configured such that each of the first and second clients have access to the scalable serial bus during respective time slots. The scalable serial bus is configured to scale at least one of a data transfer rate of the scalable serial bus, a number of channels on the scalable serial bus, or a bus width of the scalable serial bus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a system bridge;   a host module including a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the system bridge;   a scalable serial bus coupled to the system bridge;   a client controller coupled to the system bridge via the scalable serial bus; and   first and second clients coupled to the client controller, wherein the client controller is configured to interpret a communication received from the CPU and to provide the communication to the first client or to the second client based on a content of the communication;   wherein the scalable serial bus is configured such that each of the first and second clients have access to the scalable serial bus during respective time slots, and   wherein the scalable serial bus is configured to scale at least one of a data transfer rate of the scalable serial bus, a number of channels on the scalable serial bus, or a bus width of the scalable serial bus.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the client controller and the system bridge includes a physical layer configured to receive and to transmit electronic signals using low voltage differential signaling. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the client controller and the system bridge includes a control layer coupled to the physical layer. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the control layer of the client controller is configured to define channels on the scalable serial bus for the communication and to map the communication to one or more timeslots for transmission on the scalable serial bus. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein each of the client controller and the system bridge includes an instruction layer. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the control layer of the client controller is configured to encode an instruction received from the instruction layer of the client controller into a bitstream. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the client controller comprises a video module, a graphics module, or an encryption module. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second clients comprises a NOR type memory device, a NAND type memory device, or a dynamic random access memory device. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is utilized in an electronic device selected from a wired communications device, a wireless communications device, a cell phone, a switching device, a router, a repeater, a codec, a LAN, a WLAN, a Bluetooth enabled device, a digital camera, a digital audio player and/or recorder, a digital video player and/or recorder, a computer, a monitor, a television set, a satellite set top box, a cable modem, a digital automotive control system, a digitally-controlled home appliance, a printer, a copier, a digital audio or video receiver, an RF transceiver, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a digital game playing device, a digital testing and/or measuring equipment, digital avionics equipment, or a digitally-controlled medical equipment. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a system bridge;   a host module including a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the system bridge;   first and second clients; and   first and second scalable serial buses,   wherein the first and second clients are coupled to the system bridge via the first and second scalable buses, respectively, and   wherein each of the first and second scalable serial buses is configured to scale at least one of a data transfer rate, a number of channels, or a bus width.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first client includes an integrated interface coupled to the first scalable serial bus. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the integrated interface includes a physical layer configured to receive and to transmit electronic signals using low voltage differential signaling. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the integrated interface includes a control layer coupled to the physical layer. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the integrated interface includes an instruction layer coupled to the control layer. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control layer is configured to encode an instruction received from the instruction layer into a bitstream. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first and second clients comprises a NOR type memory device, a NAND type memory device, or a dynamic random access memory device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the system is utilized in an electronic device selected from a wired communications device, a wireless communications device, a cell phone, a switching device, a router, a repeater, a codec, a LAN, a WLAN, a Bluetooth enabled device, a digital camera, a digital audio player and/or recorder, a digital video player and/or recorder, a computer, a monitor, a television set, a satellite set top box, a cable modem, a digital automotive control system, a digitally-controlled home appliance, a printer, a copier, a digital audio or video receiver, an RF transceiver, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a digital game playing device, a digital testing and/or measuring equipment, digital avionics equipment, or a digitally-controlled medical equipment.