Communicating message request transaction types between agents in a computer system using multiple message groups

Abstract

A transmitting device and a receiving device are coupled via a high-speed serial interface within a computer system. The transmitting device transmits a packet header for a message request transaction that include a message group sub-field that indicates one of a plurality of message groups. The packet header also includes a format field that indicates whether the message request packet includes data. The packet header further includes a message code field to indicate a specific message type.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a protocol stack including layers to communicate data over an interconnect;   a transmitter to transmit data on a point to point interconnect;   wherein the protocol stack is to assemble a plurality of packets, a single packet to include
 an error conditions field; 
 a power management field; and 
 a reset field. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the packet is a control packet. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the protocol stack including layers comprises a physical layer, data link layer, and a transactions layer. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the interconnect includes a communication link. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the interconnect is to support a plurality of devices. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is to operate within a packet-based interconnection architecture. 
     
     
         7 . A method, comprising:
 utilizing a protocol stack including layers to communicate data over an interconnect;   utilizing a transmitter to transmit data on a point to point interconnect;   utilizing the protocol stack to assemble a plurality of packets wherein a single packet is to include
 an error conditions field; 
 a power management field; and 
 a reset field. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein to assemble the packet includes merging a header field and a data payload field. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the data is communicated from a first device to a second device over the interconnect. 
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions for machine execution of a method for:
 utilizing a protocol stack including layers to communicate data over an interconnect;   utilizing a transmitter to transmit data on a point to point interconnect;   utilizing the protocol stack to assemble a plurality of packets wherein a single packet is to include
 an error conditions field; 
 a power management field; and 
 a reset field. 
   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 10  is a mobile device. 
     
     
         12 . A point to point interconnect embedded within a mobile device, comprising:
 a protocol stack including layers to communicate data over an interconnect;   a transmitter to transmit data on a point to point interconnect;   wherein the protocol stack is to assemble a plurality of packets, a single packet to include
 an error conditions field; 
 a power management field; and 
 a reset field. 
   
     
     
         13 . The point to point interconnect of  claim 12 , wherein assembling the packet includes merging a header field and a data payload field within a single packet unit. 
     
     
         14 . The point to point interconnect of  claim 12 , wherein the data is communicated from a first device to a second device over the interconnect. 
     
     
         15 . The point to point interconnect of  claim 14 , wherein the first device is a processor. 
     
     
         16 . The point to point interconnect of  claim 14 , wherein the second device is a network router. 
     
     
         17 . The point to point interconnect of  claim 12 , wherein the protocol stack of layers are to communicate data over the interconnect to another SoC in a mobile device. 
     
     
         18 . The point to point interconnect of  claim 12 , wherein the data includes voice data. 
     
     
         19 . The point to point interconnect of  claim 12  is an embedded component within a smartphone. 
     
     
         20 . The point to point interconnect of  claim 12  further including a reserved values field. 
     
     
         21 . The point to point interconnect of  claim 12  further comprising a signaling mechanism to indicate an error, power management, and a reset condition. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a protocol stack including layers to communicate data over an interconnect; and   a transmitter to transmit data on a point to point interconnect;   wherein the protocol stack is to assemble a plurality of packets and provide a signaling mechanism to indicate an error; power management; and a reset condition.