Data communications has, for many years, used layered protocols. This approach allows designers to isolate different functional areas in the protocol and provides for one or more layers to be updated, often without changes to other layers.
Whilst PCI Express has become the standard interconnect for embedded applications, its three layers – transaction, data link and physical – make it more complex than PCI. This means designers face a more detailed set of selection criteria and ensures greater targeting of a programmable logic solution.
