Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining correct timing for receiving, in a host in a memory system, of a normal toggle transmitted by an addressed memory chip on a bidirectional data strobe. An offset in the data strobe is established, either by commanding the addressed memory chip, in a training period, to drive the data strobe to a known state, except during transmission of a normal toggle, or by providing a voltage offset between a true and a complement phase in the data strobe, or by providing a circuit bias in a differential receiver on the host the receives the data strobe. A series of read commands are transmitted by the host to the addressed memory chip, which responds by transmitting the normal toggle. Timing of reception of the normal toggle as received by the host chip is adjusted until the normal toggle is correctly received.

Abstract: A memory package and methods for writing data to and reading data from the memory package are presented. The memory package includes a volatile memory and a high-density memory. Data is written to the memory package at a bandwidth and latency associated with the volatile memory. A directory map associates a volatile memory address with data in the high-density memory. A copy of the directory map is stored in the high-density memory. The methods allow writing to and reading from the memory package using a first memory read/write interface (e.g. DRAM interface, etc.), though data is stored in a device of a different memory type (e.g. FLASH, etc.).

Abstract: A memory system and methods for memory manage are presented. The memory system includes a volatile memory electrically connected to a high-density memory; a memory controller that expects data to be written or read to or from the memory system at a bandwidth and a latency associated with the volatile memory; a directory within the volatile memory that associates a volatile memory address with data stored in the high-density memory; and redundant storage in the high-density memory that stores a copy of the association between the volatile memory address and the data stored in the high-density memory. The methods for memory management allow writing to and reading from the memory system using a first memory read/write interface (e.g. DRAM interface, etc.), though data is stored in a device of a different memory type (e.g. FLASH, etc.).

Abstract: A bus system that includes a plurality of signal driving devices coupled to a common signal bus, a bus controlled circuit coupled to the common signal bus, and a compare circuit. The plurality of signal driving devices include a first signal driving device and a second signal driving device. The bus controller includes delay compensation circuitry with a configurable delay for each of the signal driving devices. The delay compensation circuitry has a current delay chain configuration associated with the first signal driving device. The compare circuit is configured to compare a first configurable delay associated with a first signal driving device to a second configurable delay associated with a second signal driving device of the plurality of signal driving devices, and for generating an output responsive to the comparing that indicates if the current delay chain configuration can be used by the second signal driving device.

Abstract: A memory system, having indeterminate read data latency, that includes a memory controller and one or more hub devices. The memory controller is configured for receiving data transfers via an upstream channel and for determining whether all or a subset of the data transfers include a data frame by detecting a frame start indicator. The data frame includes an identification tag that is utilized by the memory controller to associate the data frame with a corresponding read instruction issued by the memory controller. The one or more hub devices are in communication with the memory controller in a cascade interconnect manner via the upstream channel and a downstream channel. Each hub device is configured for receiving the data transfers via the upstream channel or the downstream channel and for determining whether all or a subset of the data transfers include a data frame by detecting the frame start indicator.

Abstract: A method for providing frame start indication that includes receiving a data transfer via a channel in a memory system. The receiving is in response to a request, and at an indeterminate time relative to the request. It is determined whether the data transfer includes a frame start indicator. The data transfer and “n” subsequent data transfers are captured in response to determining that the data transfer includes a frame start indicator. The data transfer and the “n” subsequent data transfers make up a data frame, where “n” is greater than zero.

Abstract: A method and circuit for implementing die stacking to distribute a logical function over multiple dies, die identification and sparing in through-silicon-via stacked semiconductor devices, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. Each die in the die stack includes predefined functional logic for implementing a respective predefined function. The respective predefined function is executed in each respective die and a respective functional result is provided to an adjacent die in the die stack. Each die in the die stack includes logic for providing die identification. An operational die signature is formed by combining a plurality of selected signals on each die. A die signature is coupled to a next level adjacent die using TSV interconnections where it is combined with that die signature.

Abstract: A method and system for providing identification tags in a memory system having indeterminate data response times. An exemplary embodiment includes a memory controller in a memory system. The memory controller includes a mechanism for receiving data packets via an upstream channel, the data packets including upstream identification tags. The memory controller also includes a mechanism having instructions for facilitating determining if a received data packet is in response to a request from the memory controller. Input to the determining includes an upstream identification tag included in the received data packet. If the received data packet is determined to be in response to a request from the memory controller, then the received data packet is matched to the request, thereby allowing the memory controller to operate with indeterminate data response times.

Abstract: A method and system for providing frame start indication in a memory system having indeterminate read data latency. The method includes receiving a data transfer and determining if the data transfer includes a frame start indicator. The method also includes capturing the data transfer and “n” subsequent data transfers in response to determining that the data transfer includes a frame start indicator. The data transfer and the “n” subsequent data transfers comprise a data frame.

Abstract: A method for reconfiguring a cache memory is provided. The method in one aspect may include analyzing one or more characteristics of an execution entity accessing a cache memory and reconfiguring the cache based on the one or more characteristics analyzed. Examples of analyzed characteristic may include but are not limited to data structure used by the execution entity, expected reference pattern of the execution entity, type of an execution entity, heat and power consumption of an execution entity, etc. Examples of cache attributes that may be reconfigured may include but are not limited to associativity of the cache memory, amount of the cache memory available to store data, coherence granularity of the cache memory, line size of the cache memory, etc.

Abstract: A computing system and methods for memory management are presented. A memory or an I/O controller receives a write request where the data two be written is associated with an address. Hint information may be associated with the address and may relate to memory characteristics such as an historical, O/S direction, data priority, job priority, job importance, job category, memory type, I/O sender ID, latency, power, write cost, or read cost components. The memory controller may interrogate the hint information to determine where (e.g., what memory type or class) to store the associated data. Data is therefore efficiently stored within the system. The hint information may also be used to track post-write information and may be interrogated to determine if a data migration should occur and to which new memory type or class the data should be moved.

Abstract: Memory page management in a tiered memory system including a system that includes at least one page table for storing a plurality of entries, each entry associated with a page of memory and each entry including an address of the page and a memory tier of the page. The system also includes a control program configured for allocating pages associated with the entries to a software module, the allocated pages from at least two different memory tiers. The system further includes an agent of the control program capable of operating independently of the control program, the agent configured for receiving an authorization key to the allocated pages, and for migrating the allocated pages between the different memory tiers responsive to the authorization key.

Abstract: A method and system for thread scheduling for optimal heat dissipation are provided. Temperature sensors measure temperature throughout various parts of a processor chip. The temperatures detected are reported to an operating system or the like for scheduling threads. In one aspect, the observed temperature values are recorded on registers. An operating system or the like reads the registers and schedules threads based on the temperature values.

Abstract: A bus system that includes a plurality of signal driving devices coupled to a common signal bus, a bus controlled circuit coupled to the common signal bus, and a compare circuit. The plurality of signal driving devices include a first signal driving device and a second signal driving device. The bus controller includes delay compensation circuitry with a configurable delay for each of the signal driving devices. The delay compensation circuitry has a current delay chain configuration associated with the first signal driving device. The compare circuit is configured to compare a first configurable delay associated with a first signal driving device to a second configurable delay associated with a second signal driving device of the plurality of signal driving devices, and for generating an output responsive to the comparing that indicates if the current delay chain configuration can be used by the second signal driving device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining correct timing for receiving, in a host in a memory system, of a normal toggle transmitted by an addressed memory chip on a bidirectional data strobe. An offset in the data strobe is established, either by commanding the addressed memory chip, in a training period, to drive the data strobe to a known state, except during transmission of a normal toggle, or by providing a voltage offset between a true and a complement phase in the data strobe, or by providing a circuit bias in a differential receiver on the host the receives the data strobe. A series of read commands are transmitted by the host to the addressed memory chip, which responds by transmitting the normal toggle. Timing of reception of the normal toggle as received by the host chip is adjusted until the normal toggle is correctly received.

Abstract: A system and method for providing DRAM device-level repair via address remappings external to the device. A system includes a memory controller having an interface to one or more memory devices via a memory module. The memory devices include addressable redundant and non-redundant memory blocks. The memory controller also includes a mechanism for utilizing one or more redundant memory blocks in place of one or more failing non-redundant memory blocks via an address remapping external to the memory device. The remapping occurs while the system is on-line.

Abstract: A computer system having a combined memory. A first logical partition of the combined memory is a main memory region in a storage memory. A second logical partition of the combined memory is a direct memory region in a main memory. A memory controller comprising a storage controller is configured to receive a memory access request including a real address from a processor, determine whether the real address is for the first logical partition or for the second logical partition. If the address is for the first logical partition the storage controller communicates with an IO controller in the storage memory to service the memory access request. If the address is for the direct memory region, the memory controller services the memory access request in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A method and system for scheduling threads on simultaneous multithreaded processors are disclosed. Hardware and operating system communicate with one another providing information relating to thread attributes for threads executing on processing elements. The operating system determines thread scheduling based on the information.

Abstract: A method for reconfiguring a cache memory is provided. The method in one aspect may include analyzing one or more characteristics of an execution entity accessing a cache memory and reconfiguring the cache based on the one or more characteristics analyzed. Examples of analyzed characteristic may include but are not limited to data structure used by the execution entity, expected reference pattern of the execution entity, type of an execution entity, heat and power consumption of an execution entity, etc. Examples of cache attributes that may be reconfigured may include but are not limited to associativity of the cache memory, amount of the cache memory available to store data, coherence granularity of the cache memory, line size of the cache memory, etc.

Abstract: A memory system and methods for memory manage are presented. The memory system includes a volatile memory electrically connected to a high-density memory; a memory controller that expects data to be written or read to or from the memory system at a bandwidth and a latency associated with the volatile memory; a directory within the volatile memory that associates a volatile memory address with data stored in the high-density memory; and redundant storage in the high-density memory that stores a copy of the association between the volatile memory address and the data stored in the high-density memory. The methods for memory management allow writing to and reading from the memory system using a first memory read/write interface (e.g. DRAM interface, etc.), though data is stored in a device of a different memory type (e.g. FLASH, etc.).