Data output adjustment apparatus, data output adjustment method, RGMII network system and RGMII network communication path change method
A data output adjustment apparatus which adjusts an output timing when an outputting data with different transmission speed includes an input part which is provided corresponding to an external device connected with the data output adjustment apparatus, and gets data from the external device, a buffer part which is provided corresponding to the input part, and buffers the data got by the input part, and, an outputting part which instructs the output timing of the data corresponding to the transmission speed to the buffer part, and receives and outputs the data that the buffer part outputted corresponding to the instruction.
1. A data output adjustment apparatus which is configured in a normal mode and an energy-saving mode, to operate with an external device having a main control part, an energy-saving control part, and an Ethernet physics chip, the apparatus comprising:
an input part which includes a main side input part configured to communicate with the main control part, an energy-saving side input part configured to communicate with the energy-saving side control part, and a PHY side input part configured to communicate with the Ethernet physics chip, and which gets data from the external device;
a buffer part which includes a main side buffer part configured to communicate with the main side input part, an energy-saving side buffer part configured to communicate with the energy-saving side input part, and a PHY side buffer part configured to communicate with the PHY side input part, and which buffers the data obtained by the input part;
an outputting part including a main side output part configured to communicate with the main control part, an energy-saving side output part configured to communicate with the energy-saving control part, and a PHY side output part configured to communicate with the Ethernet physics chip; and
a path change part including a TX-switch and a RX-switch;
wherein:
in the normal mode:
the main control part controls the TX-switch to enable a communication path from the main side input part to the PHY side output part via the main side buffer part; and
the main control part controls the RX-switch to enable a communication path from the PHY side input part to the main side output part via the PHY side buffer part; and
in the energy-saving mode:
the main control part controls the TX-switch to enable a communication path from the energy-saving side input part to the PHY side output part via the energy-saving side buffer part; and
the main control part controls the RX-switch to enable a communication path from the PHY side input part to the energy-saving side output part via the PHY side buffer part; and
the outputting part controls the timing of the outputting of the data, stored in the buffer part, based on a control signal received from the main control part, corresponding to the transmission speed of the Ethernet physics chip.
2. The data output adjustment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the input part performs a bit transformation which increases the number of bits of the inputted data; and
the outputting part performs a bit transformation which decreases the number of bits of the data from the buffer part.
3. A reduced gigabit media independent interface (RGMII) network system, which is configured in a normal mode and an energy-saving mode, and performs RGMII network communication, the system comprising:
a first external device which performs predetermined processing;
a second external device including an Ethernet physics layer connected to the RGMII network;
a third external device which operates when the first external device shifts to an energy-saving state; and
a path switching part including a TX-switch and a RX-switch to set up a communication path via the first external device;
a data output adjustment apparatus which controls a timing of the outputting of a set of data, wherein:
in the normal mode:
the TX-switch enables a communication path from the first external device to the second external device via the data output adjustment apparatus; and
the RX-switch enables a communication path from the second external device to the first external device via the data output adjustment apparatus; and
in the energy-saving mode:
the TX-switch enables a communication path from the third external device to the second external device via the data output adjustment apparatus; and
the RX-switch enables a communication path from the second external device to the third external device via the data output adjustment apparatus.
4. The RGMII network system according to claim 3 , wherein
the predetermined processing in the first external device, further comprising:
a processing for outputting the speed selection signal which indicates the transmission speed of the RGMII network to the outputting part of the data output adjustment apparatus; and
a processing for instructing the path switching part a switch change signal which set up the communication path.
5. The RGMII network system according to claim 4 , wherein
the outputting part instructs a buffer part of the data output adjustment apparatus concerned the output timing of the data based on the speed selection signal.
6. The RGMII network system according to claim 5 , wherein
the path switching part changes the communication path based on the switch change signal.
7. The RGMII network system according to claim 3 , wherein
the data output adjustment apparatus is provided corresponding to the third external device.