Abstract: Circuitry that may be placed in a communication pathway between a host computer and a second display device external to the host computer. One example provides an interface circuit that receives communication signals from a host computer. These signals may be AUX signals sent over a DisplayPort or Thunderbolt connection. The interface circuit may pass these signals to the second display device directly, it may modify them before passing them on, it may ignore them, or the interface circuit may pass them to a processor associated with the second display device.

Abstract: Signal transactions are conducted between nodes coupled to a bus, without causing bus deadlock during split transactions. Deadlock avoidance is achieved by rendering a node effectively unavailable at such times to serve as a bus slave for a new bus master. When the "locking" node serves as a transaction source, deadlock is avoided by deasserting, during a split transaction, a buffer-available signal, which is used normally to indicate receiver buffer availability. Additionally, when the "locking" node serves as a transaction destination, deadlock is avoided by deasserting a bus-ownership request signal, which is used normally for requesting bus ownership. After completion of the split transactions, such signals may be unmasked.

Abstract: A memory mapping unit which permits a computer to run programs designed to provide 32-bit or 24-bit address signals to address a 32-bit addressable memory. When a CPU generates a 32-bit address, that address is passed through to provide a 32-bit physical address. However, when the CPU generates a 24-bit address, the most significant bits are processed by the memory mapping unit to provide a remapped 32-bit physical address. The memory mapping unit is implemented on a single semiconductor chip using gate-array technology.

Abstract: A local area network is disclosed including apparatus and methods for transferring data between a plurality of data processing resources ("agents") coupled to a cable. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of agents are coupled to a common cable for data transmission and reception. An agent newly coupled to the cable dynamically assigns itself a unique address on the cable to which other agents may send data. Once an agent has been assigned a final address, it may then transmit to, and receive data from, other agents on the cable. An agent desiring to send data to a receiving agent follows a three step handshake, wherein the sending agent transmits an "RTS" signal and within a predetermined time must receive a "CTS" signal from the receiving agent. The sending agent then transmits a data frame within a predetermined time after the CTS signal is received. The failure to detect a return CTS signal within the predetermined time denotes a collision condition.

Abstract: A local area network is disclosed including apparatus and methods for transferring data between a plurality of data processing resources ("agents") coupled to a cable. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of agents are coupled to a common cable for data transmission and reception. An agent newly coupled to the cable dynamically assigns itself a unique address on the cable to which other agents may send data. Once an agent has been assigned a final address, it may then transmit to, and receive data from, other agents on the cable. An agent desiring to send data to a receiving agent follows a three step handshake, wherein the sending agent transmits an "RTS" signal and within a predetermined time must receive a "CTS"signal from the receiving agent. The sending agent then transmits a data frame within a predetermined time after the CTS signal is received. The failure to detect a return CTS signal within the predetermined time denotes a collision condition.