VLSI Training
USB4.0 protocol Training
USB4 Protocol Training is a structured e-learning program designed to provide in-depth knowledge of all aspects of the USB4 standard, starting from USB4 system description and fabric architecture to detailed protocol layer functionality.
- 37 HoursCourse Duration
- 16 SessionsRecorded & Live
- 4.6/5Learner Rating
- 400+Enrolled Learners
Course Overview
USB4 Protocol Training – Course Overview
About the Course
USB4 Protocol Training is a structured e-learning program designed to provide in-depth knowledge of all aspects of the USB4 standard, starting from USB4 system description and fabric architecture to detailed protocol layer functionality. This course enables learners to understand how high-speed data transfer and multi-protocol tunneling are achieved using USB4 in modern computing and SoC platforms.
The training covers USB4 electrical layer, logical layer, transport layer, and configuration layer in detail, allowing participants to understand packet structures, flow control, link management, and device configuration mechanisms. Learners gain strong conceptual clarity on time synchronization and how reliable communication is maintained across USB4 fabric-based systems.
This program also provides in-depth exposure to USB3 tunneling, DisplayPort tunneling, and PCIe tunneling over USB4, explaining how multiple protocols are transported efficiently over a single high-speed USB4 link. Participants learn how interoperability and backward compatibility are achieved with existing USB and Thunderbolt-based systems.
The course is suitable for VLSI design engineers, verification engineers, and freshers preparing for roles in high-speed interface design, protocol development, and SoC integration involving USB4 technology. It is offered in both self-paced eLearning format and live online instructor-led mode (subject to batch availability).
Course Objectives
The primary objectives of this course are to:
• Build strong understanding of USB4 system architecture and fabric-based communication
• Gain detailed knowledge of USB4 electrical, logical, transport, and configuration layers
• Understand USB4 packet formats and data flow mechanisms
• Learn time synchronization concepts in USB4 communication
• Understand USB3, DisplayPort, and PCIe tunneling over USB4
• Learn interoperability and backward compatibility mechanisms
• Gain conceptual exposure to USB4 controller design and verification approach
• Prepare learners for USB4 protocol interview questions and industry roles
USB4 Protocol Training is a structured e-learning program designed to provide in-depth knowledge of all aspects of the USB4 standard, starting from USB4 system description and fabric architecture to detailed protocol layer functionality. This course enables learners to understand how high-speed data transfer and multi-protocol tunneling are achieved using USB4 in modern computing and SoC platforms.
The training covers USB4 electrical layer, logical layer, transport layer, and configuration layer in detail, allowing participants to understand packet structures, flow control, link management, and device configuration mechanisms. Learners gain strong conceptual clarity on time synchronization and how reliable communication is maintained across USB4 fabric-based systems.
This program also provides in-depth exposure to USB3 tunneling, DisplayPort tunneling, and PCIe tunneling over USB4, explaining how multiple protocols are transported efficiently over a single high-speed USB4 link. Participants learn how interoperability and backward compatibility are achieved with existing USB and Thunderbolt-based systems.
The course is suitable for VLSI design engineers, verification engineers, and freshers preparing for roles in high-speed interface design, protocol development, and SoC integration involving USB4 technology. It is offered in both self-paced eLearning format and live online instructor-led mode (subject to batch availability).
Course Objectives
The primary objectives of this course are to:
• Build strong understanding of USB4 system architecture and fabric-based communication
• Gain detailed knowledge of USB4 electrical, logical, transport, and configuration layers
• Understand USB4 packet formats and data flow mechanisms
• Learn time synchronization concepts in USB4 communication
• Understand USB3, DisplayPort, and PCIe tunneling over USB4
• Learn interoperability and backward compatibility mechanisms
• Gain conceptual exposure to USB4 controller design and verification approach
• Prepare learners for USB4 protocol interview questions and industry roles
Detailed Syllabus
5 modules- USB4 system description
- Routers
- Adapters
- USB4 ports and Links
- USB4 devices
- USB4 host
- Re-timers
- Connection manager
- USB4 power
- USB4 system configuration
- USB4 Functional Stack
- Electrical Layer Logical Layer Transport Layer Configuration Layer Protocol Adapter Layer
- Electrical Layer
- Logical Layer
- Transport Layer
- Configuration Layer
- Protocol Adapter Layer
- USB4 Fabric Topology
- Paths
- Communication Constructs
- USB4 Link Sideband Channel
- USB4 Link
- Sideband Channel
- USB4 Host-to-Host Communications
- Programming Model
- Connection Manager Configuration Spaces Operations
- Connection Manager
- Configuration Spaces
- Operations
- Time Synchronization
- USB4 Fabric Data Integrity
- Global Life of a Router
- Protocol Tunneling
- USB3 Tunneling Display Tunneling PCIe Tunneling Host Interface Adapter
- USB3 Tunneling
- Display Tunneling
- PCIe Tunneling
- Host Interface Adapter
- Sideband Channel
- Transactions Symbols Transactions SB Register Space
- Transactions
- Symbols Transactions SB Register Space
- Symbols
- Transactions
- SB Register Space
- Lane Initialization
- Phase 1 – Determination of Initial Conditions Phase 2 – Router Detection Phase 3 – Determination of USB4 Port Characteristics Phase 4 – Lane Parameters Synchronization and Transmit Start Phase 5 – Link Equalization
- Phase 1 – Determination of Initial Conditions
- Phase 2 – Router Detection
- Phase 3 – Determination of USB4 Port Characteristics
- Phase 4 – Lane Parameters Synchronization and Transmit Start
- Phase 5 – Link Equalization
- Logical Layer State Machine
- Lane Adapter State Machine Disabled CLd Training CL0 Lane Bonding Low Power (CL0s, CL1, and CL2) USB4 Link Transitions Transition from One Single-Lane Link to Two Single-Lane Links Transition from Two Single-Lane Links to Dual-Lane Link Transition from Dual-Lane Link to Two Single-Lane Links Transition from Two Single-Lane Links to One Single-Lane Link Logical Layer Link State
- Lane Adapter State Machine
- Disabled CLd Training CL0 Lane Bonding Low Power (CL0s, CL1, and CL2)
- Disabled
- CLd
- Training
- CL0
- Lane Bonding
- Low Power (CL0s, CL1, and CL2)
- USB4 Link Transitions
- Transition from One Single-Lane Link to Two Single-Lane Links Transition from Two Single-Lane Links to Dual-Lane Link Transition from Dual-Lane Link to Two Single-Lane Links Transition from Two Single-Lane Links to One Single-Lane Link
- Transition from One Single-Lane Link to Two Single-Lane Links
- Transition from Two Single-Lane Links to Dual-Lane Link
- Transition from Dual-Lane Link to Two Single-Lane Links
- Transition from Two Single-Lane Links to One Single-Lane Link
- Logical Layer Link State
- USB4 Link Encoding
- Lane Distribution Symbol Encoding Symbol Encoding of Transport Layer Bytes Ordered Sets Bit Swap Sync Bits Data Symbol Payload Ordered Set Symbol Payload Scrambling RS-FEC RS-FEC Activation and Deactivation Pre-coding
- Lane Distribution
- Symbol Encoding
- Symbol Encoding of Transport Layer Bytes
- Symbol Encoding of Transport Layer Bytes
- Ordered Sets
- Bit Swap
- Sync Bits Data Symbol Payload Ordered Set Symbol Payload
- Sync Bits
- Data Symbol Payload
- Ordered Set Symbol Payload
- Scrambling
- RS-FEC
- RS-FEC Activation and Deactivation Pre-coding
- RS-FEC Activation and Deactivation
- Pre-coding
- USB4 Link Operation
- Start of Data Error Cases and Recovery Clock Compensation and SKIP Dual-Lane Skew Disconnect Upstream Facing Port Disconnect Downstream Port Disconnect Lane Adapter Disable and Enable Disabled Adapter is the Upstream Adapter Disabled Adapter is not the Upstream Adapter Time Sync Notification Ordered Set (TSNOS)
- Start of Data
- Error Cases and Recovery
- Clock Compensation and SKIP
- Dual-Lane Skew
- Disconnect
- Upstream Facing Port Disconnect Downstream Port Disconnect
- Upstream Facing Port Disconnect
- Downstream Port Disconnect
- Lane Adapter Disable and Enable
- Disabled Adapter is the Upstream Adapter Disabled Adapter is not the Upstream Adapter
- Disabled Adapter is the Upstream Adapter
- Disabled Adapter is not the Upstream Adapter
- Time Sync Notification Ordered Set (TSNOS)
- Sleep and Wake
- Entry to Sleep Behavior in Sleep State Wake Events Exit from Sleep
- Entry to Sleep
- Behavior in Sleep State
- Wake Events
- Exit from Sleep
- Timing Parameters
- Transport Layer Packets
- Bit/Byte Conventions Format Header Payload Padding Error Correction Code (ECC) Transport Layer Packets Tunneled Packets Control Packets Link Management Packets Effect of Link State on Transport Layer Packets Minimum Headers Gap
- Bit/Byte Conventions
- Format
- Header Payload Padding Error Correction Code (ECC)
- Header
- Payload Padding
- Error Correction Code (ECC)
- Transport Layer Packets
- Tunneled Packets Control Packets Link Management Packets
- Tunneled Packets
- Control Packets
- Link Management Packets
- Effect of Link State on Transport Layer Packets
- Minimum Headers Gap
- Routing
- Adapter Numbering Rules HopID Rules Routing Tables Routing Rules Control Packets Link Management Packets Tunneled Packets Routing Example Connectivity Rules
- Adapter Numbering Rules
- HopID Rules
- Routing Tables
- Routing Rules
- Control Packets Link Management Packets Tunneled Packets Routing Example
- Control Packets
- Link Management Packets
- Tunneled Packets
- Routing Example
- Connectivity Rules
- Quality of Service (QOS)
- Packet Ordering Flow Control Ingress Adapter Egress Adapter Credit Counter Synchronization Bandwidth Arbitration and Priority Scheduling Packet Forwarding Delay Jitter
- Packet Ordering
- Flow Control
- Ingress Adapter Egress Adapter Credit Counter Synchronization
- Ingress Adapter
- Egress Adapter
- Credit Counter Synchronization
- Bandwidth Arbitration and Priority
- Scheduling
- Scheduling
- Packet Forwarding Delay Jitter
- Path Tear-down
- Egress Adapter Ingress Adapter
- Egress Adapter
- Ingress Adapter
- Timing Parameters
- USB4 overview
- USB Enhanced SS overview USB4 updates from USB3.2 USB type C connector USB4 pinout USB4 links Symmetric link Asymmetric link
- USB Enhanced SS overview
- USB4 updates from USB3.2
- USB type C connector
- USB4 pinout
- USB4 links
- Symmetric link Asymmetric link
- Symmetric link
- Asymmetric link
- USB4 architecture overview
- USB4 Domain Connection manager USB4 host Routers Adapters Protocol adapters Lane adapters Control adapters Numbering rules USB4 ports and links USB4 devices Peripheral device Hub USB4 based dock Retimers USB4 topology ID assignment USB4 functional stack – layers Electrical layer Logical layer Transport layer Configuration layer Protocol adapter layer USB4 packets Control packets Tunneled packets Link management packets Low speed link transitions LFPS – Low frequency periodic signaling Ordered sets
- USB4 Domain
- Connection manager
- USB4 host
- Routers
- Adapters
- Protocol adapters Lane adapters Control adapters Numbering rules
- Protocol adapters
- Lane adapters
- Control adapters
- Numbering rules
- USB4 ports and links
- USB4 devices
- Peripheral device Hub USB4 based dock Retimers
- Peripheral device
- Hub
- USB4 based dock
- Retimers
- USB4 topology ID assignment
- USB4 functional stack – layers
- Electrical layer Logical layer Transport layer Configuration layer Protocol adapter layer
- Electrical layer
- Logical layer
- Transport layer
- Configuration layer
- Protocol adapter layer
- USB4 packets
- Control packets Tunneled packets Link management packets
- Control packets
- Tunneled packets
- Link management packets
- Low speed link transitions
- LFPS – Low frequency periodic signaling
- Ordered sets
- Packets generated in different layers
- Packet routing in USB4 topology
- Route string Hop ID
- Route string
- Hop ID
- Configuration spaces
- Router CS Adapter CS Path CS Counter CS
- Router CS
- Adapter CS
- Path CS
- Counter CS
- Logical layer
- Sideband channel
- Logical layer state machine
- USB4 link encoding
- USB4 link operation
- Sleep and wake
- Timing parameters
- Transport layer
- Transport layer packets
- Routing
- Quality of service
- Timing parameters
- Configuration layer
- Domain topology Router addressing Router states Control packet protocol Notification events Router enumeration
- Domain topology
- Router addressing
- Router states
- Control packet protocol
- Notification events
- Router enumeration
- USB4 Tunneling
- USB4 Adapter layer
- PCIe Tunneling PCIe Adapter Protocol stack PCIe Adapter states Interfaces System flows Encapsulation Displayport Tunneling DP Adapter Protocol stack DP Adapter states Interfaces System flows
- PCIe Tunneling
- PCIe Adapter Protocol stack PCIe Adapter states Interfaces System flows Encapsulation
- PCIe Adapter Protocol stack
- PCIe Adapter states
- Interfaces
- System flows
- Encapsulation
- Displayport Tunneling
- DP Adapter Protocol stack DP Adapter states Interfaces System flows
- DP Adapter Protocol stack
- DP Adapter states
- Interfaces
- System flows
- Router connect and disconnect flow
- Hot plug connect flow Hot unplug connect flow
- Hot plug connect flow
- Hot unplug connect flow
- USB4 v2.0 – Gen4 Lane initialization and training
- Link initialization phases 1 to 5
- Link initialization phases 1 to 5
- USB type C power delivery protocol
- Configuration channel PD control messages PD data messages
- Configuration channel
- PD control messages
- PD data messages
- QOS
- Credit tracking
- Egress adapter
- Bandwidth arbitration and priority
- Time synchronization
- Interoperability with Thunderbolt
Session-wise Content
16 sessions · 17h 2m- 1USB SS REVISION, USB4 INTRODUCTION1h 33m
- 2USB4 OVERVIEW34m
- 3PACKET ROUTING13m
- 4FUNCTIONAL STACK3m
- 5ARCHITECTURAL CONSTRUCTS13m
- 6USB4 PACKET TYPES1h 17m
- 7Link initialization, training, Trace analysis1h 32m
- 8PCIe tunneling trace analysis1h 43m
- 9PCIe tunneling and trace analysis1h 39m
- 10Link management packets, flow control packets, Flow control schemes1h 45m
- 11Credit tracking, Flow control schemes1h 44m
- 12Bandwidth arbitration, priority, Path and Link Schedulers, Time synchronization, Time sync protocol1h 35m
- 13USB3 GenX tunneling1h 11m
- 14USB3 GenT tunneling8m
- 15USB3 GenX and GenT Tunneling5m
- 16USB4 interoperability with Thunderbolt1h 47m
Your Instructor
S
Sreenivas Reddy
Founder, VLSIGuru
Benefits of eLearning?
- Access to the Instructor - Ask questions to the Instructor who taught the course
- Available 24/7 - VLSIGuru eLearning courses are available when and where you need them
- Learn at Your Pace - VLSIGuru eLearning courses are self-paced, so you can proceed when you're ready
What Our Students Say
Frequently Asked Questions
- Course presentations for all topics
- Session notes
- Lab documents with detailed steps
- User guides
- Exposure to standard bus protocols
- Exposure to Testbench component coding using SystemVerilog
- Each session of course is recorded, missed session videos will be shared
- Option to view the rideosecorded v of course for the sessions missed
- You will have option to repeat the course any time in next 1 year
- Yes, Course fee also includes support for doubt clarification sessions even after course completion
- You have option to mail you queries
- Option to meet in person to clarify doubts