Abstract: A method of operating an application processor including a central processing unit (CPU) with at least one core and a memory interface includes measuring, during a first period, a core active cycle of a period in which the at least one core performs an operation to execute instructions and a core idle cycle of a period in which the at least one core is in an idle state, generating information about a memory access stall cycle of a period in which the at least one core accesses the memory interface in the core active cycle, correcting the core active cycle using the information about the memory access stall cycle to calculate a load on the at least one core using the corrected core active cycle, and performing a DVFS operation on the at least one core using the calculated load on the at least one core.

Abstract: Virtual processors are mappable to a number of physical processors. An interrupt distributor is responsible for distributing interrupt requests to a subset of the physical processors. An interface communicates with further interrupt distributors responsible for other physical processors. In response to an interrupt request to be handled by a target virtual processor, the interrupt distributor determines, based on cached virtual processor mapping information, whether to route the interrupt request to one of the subset of physical processors or to one of the further interrupt distributors. When a rejection response is received in response to an interrupt request routed to one of the further interrupt distributors, an update of the cached virtual processing mapping information is requested based on shared virtual processor mapping information, and a resent interrupt request is sent to a further interrupt distributor determined based on the shared virtual processor mapping information.

Abstract: A flattening portal bridge (FPB) is provided to support addressing according to a first addressing scheme and a second, alternative addressing scheme. The FPB comprises a primary side and a secondary side, the primary side connects to a first set of devices addressed according to a first addressing scheme, and the secondary side connects to a second set of devices addressed according to a second addressing scheme. The first addressing scheme uses a unique bus number within a Bus/Device/Function (BDF) address space for each device in the first set of devices, and the second bus addressing scheme uses a unique bus-device number for each device in the second set of devices.

Abstract: A multi-controller multi-memory device is disclosed. The device may include a plurality of controllers and a plurality memory units (m-units). Each controller is connected with a dedicated request-distribution unit (dist-unit) and a dedicated read-selection unit (read-unit). Each m-unit is connected with a dedicated arbitration unit (abt-unit). A controller's dedicated dist-unit is coupled with each of the abt-units dedicated to the plurality of m-units. The controller is configured to transmit a data-request to the controller's dedicated dist-unit, the data-request addressing an m-unit. The controller's dedicated dist-unit is configured to transmit the data-request to an abt-unit dedicated to the m-unit. The abt-unit is configured to select the data-request for transmitting to the m-unit based on an arbitration process.

Abstract: A method for mitigating extreme ultraviolet (EUV) mask defects is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a wafer blank, identifying a first plurality of defects on the wafer blank, providing an EUV mask design on top of the wafer blank, identifying non-critical blocks with corresponding stretchable zones on the EUV mask design, overlapping the EUV blank with the EUV mask design, identifying a second plurality of defects, the second plurality of defects are solved, identifying a third plurality of defects, the third plurality of defects are not solved, adjusting the relative locations of the EUV mask design and the EUV blank to solve at least one of the third plurality of defects, and adjusting the locations of at least one of the non-critical blocks within corresponding stretchable zones to solve at least one of the third plurality of defects.

Abstract: A memory system may include a first cache memory including a plurality of regions, which are accessed using a first address, and in each of which an indication of whether cached data is present and a second address are stored. A memory system may also include a second cache memory configured to be accessed using the second address stored in an accessed region of the first cache memory when, as a result of an access of the first cache memory, cached data is present. Still further, a memory system may include a main memory configured to be accessed using the first address when, as the result of the access of the first cache memory, cached data is not present.

Abstract: A system includes: a connector including a first connector part connected to a first device and a second connector part being attachable and detachable with respect to the first connector part and being connected to a second device; and a detachment switch provided for the connector and operated when the second connector part is disconnected from the first connector part. The first device is configured to be triggered to perform a predetermined process when the detachment switch is operated while the second connector part remains joined to the first connector part.

Abstract: Reducing latency of a circuit design can include determining, using a processor, a set of sequential circuit elements of a circuit design that meets a condition for removal from the circuit design, wherein the condition is dependent upon a target technology process and a target operating frequency. Using the processor, a feasible cut for a selected sequential circuit element of the set is determined. The selected sequential circuit element and each other sequential circuit element of the set that is part of the cut is removed from the circuit design using the processor.

Abstract: A decoder that decodes DSD (Direct Stream Digital) data including: a memory storing the DSD data; a processor; a DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller configured to read the DSD data from the memory one word at a time according to a command from the processor; a parallel/serial converter configured to output a plurality of bits contained in a word read by the DMA controller in a bit stream format; and a silent pattern generator configured to selectively output a plurality of silent patterns in a time division manner during a silence period, wherein each of the plurality of silent patterns has a mark rate of 50% and is a string of bits having different values.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and system are disclosed. One embodiment of a method for signaling an interrupt in an I2C system that includes a master I2C device and at least one slave I2C device that are connected by an SDA line and an SCL line is disclosed. The method involves, at the slave I2C device, pulling the SDA line low to signal an interrupt and at the slave I2C device, releasing the SDA line in response to either the SCL line having been pulled low or the expiration of a predetermined time period, whichever occurs first. In an embodiment, the predetermined time period is 1 ms.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a system architecture for bus masters and bus arbiters are provided to support routing and failover. The system comprises large pools of bus masters, a plurality of sets can be configured to control a plurality of slave devices wherein each set contains a collection of bus masters attached to central arbiter driving one of the system buses. Each set controls a group(s) of slave device that are primarily controlled by the bus master(s) within the set. Hence, a system can therefore include of a plurality of sets and can control a group of slave devices.

Abstract: An interrupt management system for managing multiple interrupts includes a timer and an interrupt management sub-system. The interrupt management sub-system receives first and second interrupts, determines the first interrupt to be a real-time interrupt and the second interrupt to be a non-real-time interrupt, initializes the timer for a predetermined time period on reception of the first interrupt, and determines whether the second interrupt is either a maskable or non-maskable interrupt. The interrupt management sub-system transmits the first interrupt to an interrupt controller, en-queues the second interrupt during the predetermined time period, and transmits the second interrupt to the interrupt controller after the predetermined time period when the second interrupt is a maskable interrupt. The interrupt management sub-system transmits the second interrupt to the interrupt controller during the predetermined time period when the second interrupt is a non-maskable interrupt.

Abstract: An operating system is provided in which an interrupt router dynamically steers each interrupt to one or more processors within set of processors based on overall load information from the set of processors. An interrupt source is assigned to a processor based on the load imposed by the interrupt source and the target overall load for the processor. For example, each processor can maintain information about each interrupt it processes over time. The operating system receives this historical load information to determine an expected load for interrupts of a given type from a given device, an overall load on the system, and a target load for each processor. Given a set of interrupt sources, their expected loads, and target load for each processor, each interrupt source can be assigned dynamically to a processor during runtime of the system. On a regular basis, these assignments can be changed given current operating conditions of the system.

Abstract: An initialization core may include reset logic that may detect a global reset signal (GRS). The initialization core may generate one or more packets that enable communication with the cores. The initialization core may send reset packets to each of the cores that instruct the cores to perform a reset. In some embodiments, the reset command may power-off the cores. The initialization core may then transmit unreset packets to each of the cores that instruct the cores to perform an unreset and power-on the cores. In some embodiments, the cores may resume operation automatically without receipt of the unreset packet. The transmission of the packets may be staggered (staged) to control the power-on of the processor and enable the processor unit to more slowly increase its power state.

Abstract: A bus monitoring device may include a measurement unit configured to measure a bandwidth of data on a common bus for a unit time, which is constant and predetermined, based on transfer information indicating a state of exchange of the data when a plurality of processing blocks connected to the common bus exchange the data via the common bus with a memory including an address space having a plurality of banks.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining whether producer-consumer ordering rules have been met for a first transaction to be sent from a source agent to a target agent via a fabric, and if so a first request for the first transaction is sent from the source agent to the fabric in a first clock cycle. Then a second request can be sent from the source agent to the fabric for a second transaction in a pipelined manner. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an arbitration mechanism for controlling access of a plurality of nodes external to a shared resource, to which accesses by the number of nodes must be restricted, is applicable to any shared source in a computer or computer-controlled system. The present design delivers the following advantageous features. It provides localized arbitration to obtain resource access and localized self-management of resource mastery; eliminates resource seizure locally; it allows equal access to the share resource, encapsulate all four above features with the same circuit/protocol.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for arbitration. In one embodiment, a point in a network includes first and second arbiters. Arbitration of transactions associated with an address within a first range are conducted in the first arbiter, while arbitration of transactions associated with an address within a second range are conducted in the second arbiter. Each transaction is one of a number of different transaction types having a respective priority level. A measurement circuit is coupled to receive information from the first and second arbiters each cycle indicating the type of transactions that won their respective arbitrations. The measurement circuit may update a number of credits associated with the types of winning transactions. The updated number of credits may be provided to both the first and second arbiters, and may be used as a basis for arbitration in the next cycle.

Abstract: In a communication system, a bus allows information to be communicated thereon as signals. Each of the signals has an electrical dominant level thereon and an electrical recessive level thereon. The electrical dominant level is asserted on the bus in priority to the electrical recessive level. Each of a master node and at least one autonomous communicating slave node detects that the bus is in an idle state when the electrical recessive level on the bus is continued for a predetermined period or more, transmits a corresponding header via the bus after detection of the bus being in the idle state, and performs arbitration on the bus based on the corresponding header.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to request arbitration between a plurality of master circuits and a plurality of target circuits. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an arbitration unit coupled to a plurality of request queues for a target circuit. Each request queue is configured to store requests generated by a respective one of a plurality of master circuits. The arbitration unit is configured to arbitrate between requests in the plurality of request queues based on information indicative of an ordering in which requests were submitted to the plurality of request queues by master circuits. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of master circuits are configured to submit, with each request to the target circuit, an indication specifying that a request has been submitted, and the arbitration unit is configured to determine the ordering in which requested were submitted based on the submitted indications.

Abstract: A crossbar switch with primary and secondary pickers is described herein. The crossbar switch includes a crossbar switch command scheduler that schedules commands that are to be routed across the crossbar from multiple source ports to multiple destination ports. The crossbar switch command scheduler uses primary and secondary pickers to schedule two commands per clock cycle. The crossbar switch may also include a dedicated response bus, a general purpose bus and a dedicated command bus. A system request interface may include dedicated command and data packet buffers to work with the primary and secondary pickers.

Abstract: A structure and method of allocating read buffers among multiple bus agents requesting read access in a multi-processor computer system. The number of outstanding reads a requestor may have based on the current function it is executing is dynamically limited, instead of based on local buffer space available or a fixed allocation, which improves the overall bandwidth of the requestors sharing the buffers. A requesting bus agent may control when read data may be returned from shared buffers to minimize the amount of local buffer space allocated for each requesting agent, while maintaining high bandwidth output for local buffers. Requests can be made for virtual buffers by oversubscribing the physical buffers and controlling the return of read data to the buffers.

Abstract: A computer network management apparatus and method for remotely managing a networked device. The apparatus and method includes a management processor which is in direct communication with the networked device. The apparatus and method provides access for remotely and securely managing a networked device. The apparatus and method further separates management communications from user communications to ensure the security of the management communications. The apparatus and method further includes network and power monitoring and notification systems. The apparatus and method further provides authentication and authorization capabilities for security purposes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for arbitrating on a high performance serial bus is disclosed. The invention provides for a plurality of arbitration phases and an arbitration advancing means.

Abstract: A processor chip is provided. The processor chip includes a plurality of processing cores where each of the processing cores being multi-threaded. The plurality of processing cores are located in a center region of the processor chip. A plurality of cache bank memories are included. A crossbar enabling communication between the plurality of processing cores and the plurality of cache bank memories is provided. The crossbar includes a centrally located arbiter configured to sort multiple requests received from the plurality of processing cores and the crossbar is defined over the plurality of processing cores. In another embodiment, the processor chip is oriented so that the cache bank memories are defined in the center region. A server is also included.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system comprises a memory, and a first bridge unit for processor access with the memory. The first bridge unit comprises a first arbitration unit that is coupled with an input-output bus, a memory free notification unit (“MFNU”), and the memory, and is configured to receive requests from the input-output bus and receive requests from the MFNU and choose among the requests to send to the memory on a first memory bus. The system further comprises a second bridge unit for packet data access with the memory that includes a second arbitration unit that is coupled with a packet input unit, a packet output unit, and the memory and is configured to receive requests from the packet input unit and receive requests from the packet output unit, and choose among the requests to send to the memory on a second memory bus.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first sub-arbiter circuit and a second sub-arbiter circuit. The first sub-arbiter circuit may be configured to determine a winning channel from a plurality of channel requests based on a first criteria. The second sub-arbiter circuit may be configured to determine a winning channel received from the plurality of channel requests based on a second criteria. The second sub-arbiter may also be configured to optimize the order of the winning channels from the first sub-arbiter by overriding the first sub-arbiter if the second criteria creates a more efficient data transfer.

Abstract: A system and method and computer program product for reducing the latency of signals communicated through a crossbar switch, the method including using at slave arbitration logic devices associated with Slave devices for which access is requested from one or more Master devices, two or more priority vector signals cycled among their use every clock cycle for selecting one of the requesting Master devices and updates the respective priority vector signal used every clock cycle. Similarly, each Master for which access is requested from one or more Slave devices, can have two or more priority vectors and can cycle among their use every clock cycle to further reduce latency and increase throughput performance via the crossbar.

Abstract: A data transfer system includes a PCI Express transaction layer having an input for serially receiving posted and non-posted request packets and completion packets; an application layer coupled to the PCI Express transaction layer for receiving posted and non-posted request packets and completion packets from the PCI Express transaction layer; a first transmission interface coupling the application layer to the PCI Express transaction layer; and a second transmission interface coupling the application layer to the PCI Express transaction layer. The PCI Express transaction layer transmits posted and non-posted request packets to the application layer over the first transmission interface and transmits completion packets to the application layer over the second transmission interface.

Abstract: A bus monitoring device may include a measurement unit configured to measure a bandwidth of data on a common bus for a unit time, which is constant and predetermined, based on transfer information indicating a state of exchange of the data when a plurality of processing blocks connected to the common bus exchange the data via the common bus with a memory including an address space having a plurality of banks.

Abstract: A certain ECU transmits a reference message for requiring the other ECUs to transmit data. After transmission of the reference message, each of all the ECUs transmits priority information of its transmit message onto a communication bus, and then detects whether some priority information transmitted from the other ECUs has a higher priority than its own transmitted priority information. If there is detected no priority information of a higher priority than its own transmitted priority information, it transmits a message associated therewith, and then is prohibited to transmit data of the same priority until receiving a next reference message.

Abstract: A connection method for bus controllers is provided which includes using a logic circuit in which if both signal levels of two input terminals are recessive, a signal level of an output terminal becomes recessive, and if at least one of the signal levels of the two input terminals is dominant, a signal level of the output terminal becomes dominant, defining one of the two bus controllers, which are subject to one-on-one connection, as a first controller, defining the other of the two bus controllers as a second controller, connecting a transmitting terminal of the first controller to one of the two input terminals of the logic circuit, connecting a transmitting terminal of the second controller to the other of the two input terminals of the logic circuit, and connecting receiving terminals of the first and second controllers to the output terminal of the logic circuit.

Abstract: A data transfer apparatus performing data communication by transmitting a bus use request to an arbiter between a plurality of nodes coupled in a tree shape through a bus is provided. The data transfer apparatus includes a request generation circuit which generates a highest priority request indicating that a priority level for using the bus is the highest, a determination circuit which determines the priority level of the highest priority request, and a priority level setting circuit which determines the highest priority request which takes priority based on a result of the determination circuit when a plurality of highest priority requests conflicts in a node.

Abstract: A communication system is provided, including a first master device to operate as a master of a communication according to a first protocol, a second master device to operate as a master of a communication according to a second protocol, a common slave device to operate as a slave of the communication according to the first protocol and the second protocol with respect to the first master device and the second master device, and a switch to control a connection between the common slave device and the first master device and between the common slave device and the second master device for a communication between the common slave device and one of the first master device to and the second master device. Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a communication system that minimizes cost increases and improves communication speed in a system in which a plurality of master devices communicate with a slave device performing the same function as the master devices.

Abstract: A Device-to-Device Communication Bus protocol may facilitate transmission of a two to four byte packet by any device sharing the bus. All devices on the bus may monitor the bus, receiving all packets transmitted by other devices and recognizing when they may initiate transmission. The first byte of the packet may be an Address byte uniquely identifying the sender and allowing hardware arbitration to uniquely select one of any number of senders who may wish to transmit and begin transmission simultaneously. Arbitration may take place during transmission of the Address byte, with the transmitting device monitoring a bus bit value as it is transmitting the Address byte. If the data value observed by the transmitting device doesn't match the transmitting device's desired transmit value, the transmitting device may recognize loss of arbitration and suspend transmission to retry once the packet is complete. The receive function in every device may accept the packet as a normal received packet.

Abstract: An arbitration device including: a first measuring circuit to measure a first period; a second measuring circuit to measure a second period; a second selection circuit to select and output the first period or the second period according to a first selection signal; a first control circuit to output the first selection signal according to the first period and the second period; a third selection circuit to select a third data or either the first data or the second data according to a second selection signal; a third measuring circuit to measure a third period; a fourth measuring circuit to measure a fourth period; and a second control circuit to output the second selection signal according to either the selected first period or the selected second period and the third period and the fourth period.

Abstract: A system may comprise multiple master/slave devices coupled to a common bus, where one of the devices may operate as the current master device and the other devices may operate as current slave devices. Current slave devices may embed bus ownership request information within response packets transmitted in response to standard bus operations, such as reads and writes, issued by the current master device. When the current master device is idle, its bus interface may continually poll the current slave devices at regular intervals, according to a specified protocol, to ascertain whether any of them are requesting bus ownership. A response to a request for bus ownership received by the current master device may be configured according to desired system functionality. In one system, ownership may always be transferred to the requesting device.

Abstract: A bus arbitration apparatus according to this invention appropriately arbitrates bus rights of use between a plurality of masters and a plurality of slaves so as to efficiently perform requested data transfer. An arbiter A 5 receives data transfer requests with respect to a slave A 3 generated by masters A 1 and B 2. The arbiter A 5 cooperates with an arbiter B 4, and arbitrates a contention of the data transfer requests with respect to the slave A 3 generated by the masters A 1 and B 2.

Abstract: A method of determining request transmission priority subject to request content and transmitting request subject to such request transmission priority in application of Fieldbus communication framework in which the communication device determines whether the received requests have the priority subject to the respective content, and also determines whether there is any logical operation condition established, and then the communication device transmits the received external requests to the connected slave device as an ordinary request or priority request, preventing the slave device from receiving an important external request sent by the main control end or manager at a late time.

Abstract: An arbitration device including: a first measuring circuit to measure a first period; a second measuring circuit to measure a second period; a second selection circuit to select and output the first period or the second period according to a first selection signal; a first control circuit to output the first selection signal according to the first period and the second period; a third selection circuit to select a third data or either the first data or the second data according to a second selection signal; a third measuring circuit to measure a third period; a fourth measuring circuit to measure a fourth period; and a second control circuit to output the second selection signal according to either the selected first period or the selected second period and the third period and the fourth period.

Abstract: A method and system for bus arbitration to be used in a system having a plurality of data handling units (110a, . . . , 110d) and a shared bus (140) with a plurality of data-lines. The invention provides a method and an system to carry out the method, having steps of; receiving data transfer requests from the data handling units; selecting a set of data transfer requests the allowance of which serves a maximum number of data handling units and utilizes a maximum number of data-lines, and; allowing the data handling units that issued said selected set of data transfer requests to access said bus in a single bus cycle.

Abstract: A plurality of integrated circuits in a system, each having a program memory loaded with different sections of a program, and a second memory. The integrated circuits perform the program, such that, when one of the integrated circuits requires a portion of the program, which is contained in its own program memory, it extracts it from the program memory and uses it, but when it requires a portion of the program, which is not contained in its own program memory, it reads it from the program memory of one of the other integrated circuits into its second memory and runs that portion of the program from there. In one example, the system is a line card, and the program is specific to one DSL protocol.

Abstract: An arbiter for a device arranged to be coupled to a serial bus, the arbiter comprising a means for obtaining identifier information associated with one more other devices coupled to the serial bus and; means for determining a priority level based upon an identifier associated with the device and identifier associated with one of the other devices.

Abstract: A system and method and computer program product for reducing the latency of signals communicated through a crossbar switch, the method including using at slave arbitration logic devices associated with Slave devices for which access is requested from one or more Master devices, two or more priority vector signals cycled among their use every clock cycle for selecting one of the requesting Master devices and updates the respective priority vector signal used every clock cycle. Similarly, each Master for which access is requested from one or more Slave devices, can have two or more priority vectors and can cycle among their use every clock cycle to further reduce latency and increase throughput performance via the crossbar.

Abstract: A bus arbitration apparatus according to this invention appropriately arbitrates bus rights of use between a plurality of masters and a plurality of slaves so as to efficiently perform requested data transfer. An arbiter A 5 receives data transfer requests with respect to a slave A 3 generated by masters A 1 and B 2. The arbiter A 5 cooperates with an arbiter B 4, and arbitrates a contention of the data transfer requests with respect to the slave A 3 generated by the masters A 1 and B 2.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for preemption in asynchronous systems using anti-tokens are disclosed. According to one aspect, configurable system for constructing asynchronous application specific integrated data pipeline circuits with preemption includes a plurality of modular circuit stages that are connectable with each other and with other circuit elements to form multi-stage asynchronous application specific integrated data pipeline circuits for asynchronously sending data and tokens in a forward direction through the pipeline and for asynchronously sending anti-tokens in a backward direction through the pipeline. Each stage is configured to perform a handshaking protocol with other pipeline stages, the protocol including receiving either a token from the previous stage or an anti-token from the next stage, and in response, sending both a token forward to the next stage and an anti-token backward to the previous stage.

Abstract: A method of determining request transmission priority subject to request source and transmitting request subject to such request transmission priority in application of Fieldbus communication framework in which the communication device determines whether the received requests have the priority subject to the respective source and also determines whether there is any logical operation condition established, and then the communication device transmits the received external requests to the connected slave device as an ordinary request or priority request, preventing the slave device from receiving an important external request sent by the main control end or manager at a late time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data processing system is provided which comprises at least one first processing unit (CPU), at least one second processing unit (PU), at least one memory module (MEM), and an interconnect. The memory module (MEM) serves to store data from said at least one first and second processing unit (CPU, PU). The interconnecting means couples the memory module (MEM) to the first and second processing units (CPU, PU). In addition, an arbitration unit (AU) is provided for performing the arbitration to the memory module (MEM) of the first and second processing units (CPU, PU). The arbitration is performed on a time window basis. A first access time during which the second processing unit (PU) has accessed the memory module and a second access time which is still required by the second processing unit (PU) to complete its processing are monitored during a predefined time window by the arbitration unit (AU).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a control bus for connection of electronic devices. An embodiment of a method includes coupling a transmitting device to a receiving device, including connecting a control bus between the transmitting device and the receiving device, with the control bus being a bi-directional, single-line bus. The method further includes obtaining control of the control bus for either the transmitting device or the receiving device, with the device obtaining control becoming an initiator and the other device becoming a follower. One or more control signals are converted to one or more data packets, with each of the one or more control signals representing one of multiple different types of control signals. The generated data packets are transmitted from the initiator to the follower via the control bus.

Abstract: A communications bus operates using transition coding, for example NRZI coding, with transition-dominant signalling. That is, when the signal takes a first binary value, binary “1”, the component drives the bus line to its opposite state, and, when the signal takes a second binary value, binary “0”, the component does not actively drive the bus line. During arbitration, each arbitrating component writes a unique arbitrand onto the bus, and arbitration is lost by each component that writes a binary “0” when at least one other component writes a binary “1”. The components preferably do not use transition-dominant signalling when transmitting data payloads. For such traffic they actively drive the binary “0”s as well as binary “1”s.