System and method of sending data via additional secondary data lines on a bus

Abstract

A serial low-power inter-chip media bus communications link is deployed in apparatus having multiple Integrated Circuit devices. Communications capabilities of a device coupled to the communications link may be determined and configuration or framing message may be sent to the first device based on the capabilities. The messages may be transmitted on a primary data line of the communications link with a clock used to control timing of transmission on at least the primary data line. The communications capabilities can include information identifying a number of data wires supported by or coupled to the device. A first device may be configured to communicate with a second device over a secondary data line, which may be reserved for such direct communication. Communications on the secondary data line may be synchronized using the clock signal and may be controlled by a different protocol than the protocol used for the primary data line.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communication method, comprising:
 determining communication capabilities of a first device coupled to a serial bus, wherein the communication capabilities identify a plurality of lines coupled to the first device including a primary data line and a secondary data line, wherein the secondary data line couples the first device to a second device; and   sending a configuration message from a third device over the primary data line, wherein the configuration message includes control information configured to reserve the secondary data line for communication between the first device and the second device; and   providing a clock signal that controls timing of transmissions in a plurality of time slots defined for at least the primary data line.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration message is communicated in accordance with a first protocol and wherein the first device is configured to communicate with the second device over the secondary data line using the first protocol. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration message is communicated in accordance with a first protocol and wherein the first device is configured to communicate with the second device over the secondary data line using a second protocol. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein data is transmitted on the secondary data line in accordance with timing provided by the clock signal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a communication channel using the primary data line and the secondary data line, wherein the first device communicates with the second device over the secondary data line using the communication channel.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary data line connects the first device with the second device independently of the serial bus. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary data line is one of a plurality of secondary data lines of the serial bus. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the control information is generated by a bus manager that communicates with a plurality of devices over the primary data line. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending configuration messages over the primary data line to a plurality of devices; and   transmitting a reconfiguration command to the plurality of devices,   wherein the reconfiguration command causes each of the plurality of devices to adopt a configuration in accordance with at least one configuration message.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first device is configured to relay one or more configuration messages sent over the primary data line to a fourth device. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a communication interface configured to couple the apparatus to a first device and to a second device through a serial bus;   a bus manager; and   a processing circuit configured to:
 determine communication capabilities of a first device coupled to a serial bus, wherein the communication capabilities identify a plurality of lines coupled to the first device including a primary data line and a secondary data line, wherein the secondary data line couples the first device to a second device; and 
 send a configuration message from a third device over the primary data line, wherein the configuration message includes control information configured to reserve the secondary data line for communication between the first device and the second device; and 
 providing a clock signal that controls timing of transmissions in a plurality of time slots defined for at least the primary data line. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the configuration message is communicated in accordance with a first protocol and wherein the first device is configured to communicate with the second device over the secondary data line using the first protocol. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the configuration message is communicated in accordance with a first protocol and wherein the first device is configured to communicate with the second device over the secondary data line using a second protocol. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein data is transmitted on the secondary data line in accordance with timing provided by the clock signal. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to:
 provide a communication channel using the primary data line and the secondary data line, wherein the first device communicates with the second device over the secondary data line using the communication channel.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the secondary data line connects the first device with the second device independently of the serial bus. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the secondary data line is one of a plurality of secondary data lines of the serial bus. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the control information is generated by a bus manager that communicates with a plurality of devices over the primary data line. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to:
 send configuration messages over the primary data line to a plurality of devices; and   transmit a reconfiguration command to the plurality of devices,   wherein the reconfiguration command causes each of the plurality of devices to adopt a configuration in accordance with at least one configuration message.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first device is configured to relay one or more configuration messages sent over the primary data line to a fourth device. 
     
     
         21 . A communication method, comprising:
 receiving a reconfiguration command from a primary data line of a serial bus, wherein the reconfiguration command is received from a first device coupled to the serial bus;   reconfiguring a communication interface in response to a reconfiguration command; and   communicating with the first device in at least one time slot defined for the primary data line while communicating with a second device over a secondary data line after reconfiguring the communication interface, wherein the secondary data line is reserved for communication with the second device.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein data is transmitted on the primary data line in accordance with timing provided by a clock signal transmitted over a clock line of the serial bus. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the secondary data line is operated in accordance with a protocol used for communicating over the primary data line. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the secondary data line is operated in accordance with a first protocol that is different from a second protocol used for communicating over the primary data line. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 reporting communication capabilities information to the first device, wherein the reconfiguration command is generated in response to the communication capabilities information.   
     
     
         26 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processing circuit configured to:
 a reconfiguration command from a primary data line of a serial bus, wherein the reconfiguration command is received from a first device coupled to the serial bus; 
 reconfigure a communication interface in response to a reconfiguration command; and 
 communicate with the first device in at least one time slot defined for the primary data line while communicating with a second device over a secondary data line after reconfiguring the communication interface, wherein the secondary data line is reserved for communication with the second device. 
   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein data is transmitted on the primary data line in accordance with timing provided by a clock signal transmitted over a clock line of the serial bus. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the secondary data line is operated in accordance with a protocol used for communicating over the primary data line. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the secondary data line is operated in accordance with a first protocol that is different from a second protocol used for communicating over the primary data line. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to:
 report communication capabilities information to the first device, wherein the reconfiguration command is generated in response to the communication capabilities information.