Parallel interface pattern modification for addressing signal integrity concerns

1. A method for enhancing signal integrity in an interface between a source device and at least one destination device, the method comprising:

analyzing two or more consecutive data patterns intended to be conveyed by the interface to determine whether data transitions corresponding to the data patterns are likely to introduce at least one of coupling noise and simultaneous switching output (SSO) effects on the interface;

generating a modified data pattern for transmission by the interface, the modified data pattern reducing at least one of coupling noise and SSO effects on the interface compared to an original data pattern intended to be conveyed by the interface; and

transmitting the modified data pattern and information regarding a manner in which the original data pattern was modified to the at least one destination device to thereby reduce at least one of coupling noise and SSO effects on the interface.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing two or more consecutive data patterns comprises:

storing a first data pattern;

comparing the first data pattern with a second data pattern that is temporarily adjacent to the first data pattern; and

determining, as a function of the comparison between the first and second data patterns, which bit positions in the second data pattern result in a change of logical state.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein analyzing two or more consecutive data patterns comprises designating, as a function of the comparison between the first and second data patterns, at least one bit position in the second data pattern as a victim signal and designating at least one bit position in the second data pattern as an aggressor signal.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein generating the modified data pattern comprises inverting a logical state of at least one bit position in the second data pattern.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the modified data pattern comprises encoding the original data pattern by inverting a logical state of at least one bit position in the original data pattern, wherein the information regarding the manner in which the original data pattern was modified comprises an indication of the at least one bit position in the original data pattern that is inverted.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the modified data pattern comprises performing data compression of the modified data pattern and the information regarding the manner in which the original data pattern was modified.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the modified data pattern comprises increasing a bit width of the interface such that each cycle of modified data pattern carries with it the information regarding the manner in which the original data pattern was modified.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information regarding the manner in which the original data pattern was modified comprises data regarding a methodology to be used in decoding the modified data pattern.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the data regarding the methodology to be used in decoding the modified data pattern is embedded with bits of the modified data pattern.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the information regarding the manner in which the original data pattern was modified in a storage element, and wherein transmitting the modified data pattern comprises retrieving the information regarding the manner in which the original data pattern was modified from the storage element and transmitting the information with the modified data pattern to the at least one destination device.

11. An apparatus for enhancing signal integrity in an interface with at least one destination device, the apparatus comprising:

interface circuitry in operative communication with the at least one destination device via the interface; and

an encoder/decoder coupled with the interface circuitry, the encoder/decoder being configured: to analyze two or more consecutive data patterns intended to be conveyed by the interface to determine whether data transitions corresponding thereto are likely to introduce at least one of coupling noise and simultaneous switching output (SSO) effects on the interface; to generate a modified data pattern for transmission by the interface, the modified data pattern reducing at least one of coupling noise and SSO effects on the interface compared to an original data pattern intended to be conveyed by the interface; and to transmit the modified data pattern and information regarding a manner in which the original data pattern was modified to the at least one destination device to thereby reduce at least one of coupling noise and SSO effects on the interface.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the interface circuitry comprises a plurality of bidirectional buffers, each of the bidirectional buffers corresponding to a bit of an input/output bus forming at least a portion of the interface.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising at least a first buffer coupled with the encoder/decoder, the first buffer being configured to at least temporarily store the original data pattern intended to be conveyed by the interface.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a second buffer coupled with the encoder/decoder and the interface circuitry, the second buffer being configured to at least temporarily store the modified data pattern for transmission to the at least one destination device.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a storage element configured to at least temporarily store the information regarding the manner in which the original data pattern was modified for transmission, with the modified data pattern, to the at least one destination device.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the encoder/decoder is configured to generate the modified data pattern by encoding the original data pattern by inverting a logical state of at least one bit position in the original data pattern, wherein the information regarding the manner in which the original data pattern was modified comprises an indication of the at least one bit position in the original data pattern that is inverted.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the encoder/decoder, in analyzing the two or more consecutive data patterns, is configured: to store a first data pattern; to compare the first data pattern with a second data pattern that is temporarily adjacent to the first data pattern; and to determine, as a function of the comparison between the first and second data patterns, which bit positions in the second data pattern result in a change of logical state.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the encoder/decoder, in analyzing the two or more consecutive data patterns, is configured to designate, as a function of the comparison between the first and second data patterns, at least one bit position in the second data pattern as a victim signal and to designate at least one bit position in the second data pattern as an aggressor signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the encoder/decoder is configured to generate the modified data pattern by performing data compression of the modified data pattern and the information regarding the manner in which the original data pattern was modified.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the apparatus is fabricated in an integrated circuit.

21. An electronic system, comprising:

at least one apparatus for enhancing signal integrity in an interface with at least one destination device, the at least one apparatus comprising:

interface circuitry in operative communication with the at least one destination device via the interface; and

an encoder/decoder coupled with the interface circuitry, the encoder/decoder being configured: to analyze two or more consecutive data patterns intended to be conveyed by the interface to determine whether data transitions corresponding thereto are likely to introduce at least one of coupling noise and simultaneous switching output (SSO) effects on the interface; to generate a modified data pattern for transmission by the interface, the modified data pattern reducing at least one of coupling noise and SSO effects on the interface compared to an original data pattern intended to be conveyed by the interface; and to transmit the modified data pattern and information regarding a manner in which the original data pattern was modified to the at least one destination device to thereby reduce at least one of coupling noise and SSO effects on the interface.