Re: [RFC PATCH] slimbus: Linux driver framework for SLIMbus.

[Kenneth Heitke <kheitke@codeaurora.org>]

On 08/15/2011 01:37 PM, Russell King wrote:
> On Wed, Aug 10, 2011 at 05:31:28PM -0600, Kenneth Heitke wrote:
>> From: Sagar Dharia<sdharia@codeaurora.org>
>>
>> SLIMbus (Serial Low Power Interchip Media Bus) is a specification
>> developed by MIPI (Mobile Industry Processor Interface) alliance.
>> SLIMbus is a 2-wire implementation, which is used to communicate with
>> peripheral components like audio. Commonly used digital audio
>> interfaces such as I2S, PCM are intended for point-to-point connection
>> between application processor and single audio device and support one
>> or two channels. Adding more channels or functions is difficult
>> without increasing number of bus structures and hence pin count.
>> In parallel to audio channels, control buses such as I2C are typically
>> used for low-bandwidth control tasks.
>> SLIMbus replaces many digital audio buses and control buses by
>> providing flexible and dynamic bus-bandwidth between data-functions
>> and control-functions.
>>
>> The framework supports message APIs, channel scheduling for SLIMbus.
>> Message APIs are used for status/control type of communication with a
>> device. Data Channel APIs are used for setting data channels between
>> SLIMbus devices.
>>
>> Framework supports multiple busses (1 controller per bus) and multiple
>> clients/slave devices per controller.
>
> This looks like another bus doing the same thing as SPI and I2C.
>
...
>
> I heard of another bus type at the recent Linaro conference which sounds
> like it's going to do yet again a similar thing.  So it sounds like we're
> heading for about four of these things.
>
> Is there any way to consolidate this before we end up with four ways of
> solving the same problem?
>

I agree and am certainly open to suggestions.  SPMI is another MIPI 
standard bus that is likely going to fall into the same category.

thanks,
Ken

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