Access Arbitrating Patents (Class 710/240)
  • Patent number: 9430808
    Abstract: Techniques for synchronization points for state information are described. In at least some embodiments, synchronization points are employed to propagate state information among different processing threads. A synchronization point, for example, can be employed to propagate state information among different independently-executing threads. Accordingly, in at least some embodiments, synchronization points serve as inter-thread communications among different independently-executing threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Christian Fortini, Brian E. Manthos, Grant A. Watters, Li-Hsin Huang, Richard K. James, Samuel R. Fortiner, R. Scott Briggs, Sergey Z. Malkin, Yuanzhe Wang, Rico Mariani, Justin E. Rogers, Anjali S. Parikh, Praveen Kumar Muralidhar Rao, Matthew P. Kotsenas, Jason J. Weber, Nirankush Panchbhai, Rossen Atanassov, Peter Salas
  • Patent number: 9411753
    Abstract: System and methods are provided for dynamically managing a first-in/first-out (FIFO) command queue of a system controller. One or more commands are received into the command queue, a command being associated with a priority parameter. A current command first in line to be executed in the command queue is determined, the current command being associated with a first priority parameter. A second command associated with a second priority parameter is determined, the second priority parameter being largest among priority parameters associated with the one or more commands. A final priority parameter for the current command is computed based at least in part on the second priority parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: MARVELL WORLD TRADE LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Zhu, Joseph Jun Cao, Tsung-Ju Yang, Ruoyang Lu
  • Patent number: 9412455
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a data transfer control device complying with a communication protocol which executes an update of information from an attachment device in a predetermined area of a system memory, the device includes a receiving part receiving the information from the attachment device, a transferring part transferring the information in the predetermined area, the information from the transferring part overwritten in the predetermined area sequentially, and a determining part inhibiting a transfer of the information in the transferring part to omit the update of the information in the predetermined area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Makiko Numata, Mitsunori Tadokoro, Norikazu Yoshida, Kohei Oikawa
  • Patent number: 9390039
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for selecting a requester to service during an arbitration round, and updating counters associated with the selected requester including a command unit counter and a data unit counter, determining if the counters are in compliance with corresponding threshold values, and if so granting a transaction for the selected requester, and otherwise denying the transaction. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Siaw Kang Lai
  • Patent number: 9383396
    Abstract: A method for detecting a signal activity on a bus comprises measuring a current on the bus, and determining a signal activity based on the measured current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ben Eitel, Heimo Guth
  • Patent number: 9355048
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are directed to securely store, transfer, and/or process data especially sensitive data sent from input devices to processors. In one embodiment, sensitive data may be packaged with at least one interrupt vector to provide a single posted write transaction initiated by an input device. The single posted write transaction may then be directly sent to a predetermined memory block allocated from a processor. In response to the single posted write transaction, a memory decoder associated with the processor may generate an emulated message signaled interrupt (MSI) signal to invoke an interrupt handler or an interrupt service routine (ISR) to service the emulated MSI using interrupt data, including the sensitive data, retrieved from the predetermined memory block. Once the sensitive data are processed by the processor, they may be removed from the processor before the processor exits the interrupt handler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yen Hsiang Chew
  • Patent number: 9304924
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a processing network element (NE) comprising at least one receiver configured to receive a plurality of memory request messages from a plurality of memory nodes, wherein each memory request designates a source node, a destination node, and a memory location, and a plurality of response messages to the memory requests from the plurality of memory nodes, wherein each memory request designates a source node, a destination node, and a memory location, at least one transmitter configured to transmit the memory requests and memory responses to the plurality of memory nodes, and a controller coupled to the receiver and the transmitter and configured to enforce ordering such that memory requests and memory responses designating the same memory location and the same source node/destination node pair are transmitted by the transmitter in the same order received by the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Iulin Lih, Chenghong He, Hongbo Shi, Naxin Zhang
  • Patent number: 9298505
    Abstract: A time and space-deterministic task scheduling apparatus and method using a multi-dimensional scheme are disclosed. The time and space-deterministic task scheduling apparatus includes a preparation list generation unit and a task insertion unit. The preparation list generation unit generates a preparation list, including a preparation table having an array structure configured to have each bit formed of a binary number indicative of a priority of a task, and also including a preparation group cluster configured to include a plurality of preparation groups, each including bits corresponding to the respective binary numbers of the preparation table, and to have an upper and lower dimension relationship between the plurality of preparation groups. The task insertion unit performs bit masking on the preparation group cluster and the preparation table corresponding to a task P having a specific priority and thus inserts the task into the preparation group cluster and the preparation table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Moon Haeng Cho, JongJin Won, CheolOh Kang, JeongSeok Lim
  • Patent number: 9285801
    Abstract: A method for automatically creating a customized motion controller based on user input specifying desired characteristics of the motion controller. The method may compile the program into executable code and download the executable code to a target platform, thus enabling the target platform to function as the specified customized motion controller. User input may specify characteristics of the motion controller system such as: the target platform; the configuration of motors, sensors and I/O devices to be used; the supervisory control functions to be implemented; and the target language for the motion control program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Sundeep Chandhoke
  • Patent number: 9251022
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to building, by a computing device, a pseudo-random dynamic instruction stream that comprises instructions configured to perform a transaction execution. The computing device may cause the transaction execution to be tested in a multi-processing system based on the instruction stream. A status of the test may be output to one or more output devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Y. Duale, Dennis W. Wittig
  • Patent number: 9229646
    Abstract: A environment and method are provided for increasing the storage capacity of a data storage environment. Additional storage clusters may be added to the storage environment without affecting the performance of each individual storage cluster. When data is written to the storage environment, a selection may be made as to which storage cluster is to store the data. When data is read from the storage environment, it may be determined which storage cluster stores the data and the data may be retrieved from that storage cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Todd, Michael Kilian, Tom Teugels, Jan Van Riel, Carl D′Halluin, Christophe Bouhon
  • Patent number: 9223581
    Abstract: A method for operating a system on chip includes receiving an acceleration request signal generated upon execution of an application program, in response to receipt of the acceleration request signal, comparing a current usage of a central processing unit (CPU) with a threshold value to generate a comparison signal, and performing switching between heterogeneous accelerators to accelerate a function executed by the application program in response to the comparison signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Boo-Jin Kim, Je Myoung Ko, Taek Kyun Shin
  • Patent number: 9215087
    Abstract: Techniques for transmitting a packet from a source switch module to a destination switch module. Embodiments receive, at a first port of a first switch module, a packet that includes (i) path information specifying a route to the destination switch module, (ii) a set of load/store operations to be executed by the destination switch module and (iii) return path information specifying a route from the destination switch module to the source switch module. Upon determining that the first switch module is the destination switch module, the set of load/store operations are copied from the received packet into an execution buffer for automatic execution. Once the set of load/store operations are executed, embodiments transmit the packet to a second switch module using the first port on which the packet was received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Flynn, Joseph A. Kirscht, Bruce M. Walk
  • Patent number: 9189435
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin K. Dodge, Deniz Balkan, Gurjeet S. Saund, Munetoshi Fukami
  • Patent number: 9189296
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a caching agent for preventing deadlock in a processor. The caching agent includes a receiver configured to receive a request from a core of the processor. The caching agent includes ingress logic coupled to the receiver to determine that the request is potentially a cacheable request. The ingress logic is to determine that the request does not deplete an available coherence resource. The ingress logic is to allow the request to be processed in response to the determination that the request does not deplete the available coherence resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Bahaa Fahim, Jeffrey Chamberlain, Yen-Cheng Liu
  • Patent number: 9170903
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to building, by a computing device, a pseudo-random dynamic instruction stream that comprises instructions configured to perform a transaction execution. The computing device may cause the transaction execution to be tested in a multi-processing system based on the instruction stream. A status of the test may be output to one or more output devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Y. Duale, Dennis W. Wittig
  • Patent number: 9158547
    Abstract: Hardware and software techniques for interrupt detection and response in a scalable pipelined array processor environment are described. Utilizing these techniques, a sequential program execution model with interrupts can be maintained in a highly parallel scalable pipelined array processing containing multiple processing elements and distributed memories and register files. When an interrupt occurs, interface signals are provided to all PEs to support independent interrupt operations in each PE dependent upon the local PE instruction sequence prior to the interrupt. Processing/element exception interrupts are supported and low latency interrupt processing is also provided for embedded systems where real time signal processing is required. Further, a hierarchical interrupt structure is used allowing a generalized debug approach using debut interrupts and a dynamic debut monitor mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin Franklin Barry, Patrick R. Marchand, Gerald George Pechanek, Larry D. Larsen
  • Patent number: 9141429
    Abstract: A multicore processor system includes a core configured to detect a change in a state of assignment of a multicore processor; obtain, upon detecting the change in the state of assignment, number of accesses of a common resource shared by the multicore processor by each of process that are assigned to cores of the multicore processor; calculate an access ratio based on the obtained number of accesses; and notify an arbitration circuit of the calculated access ratio, the arbitration circuit arbitrating accesses of the common resource by the multicore processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiromasa Yamauchi, Koichiro Yamashita, Kiyoshi Miyazaki, Hitoshi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9128891
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method of sharing a storage device and a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal comprises a first processor, a second processor and a readable and writable nonvolatile storage device. A processing capacity of the first processor is different from that of the second processor. A state in which the first processor is operating and using the storage device is a second state. A state in which the second processor is operating and using the storage device is a third state. The method comprising: the first processor receiving a switch instruction; the first processor controlling the storage device to enter the second state or the third state according to the switch instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: LENOVO (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fuliang Zhang, Wenying Shan, Chunhui Sun, Jinmei Yang
  • Patent number: 9104470
    Abstract: A task processor includes a CPU, a save circuit, and a task control circuit. A task control circuit is provided with a task selection circuit and state storage units associated with respective tasks. When executing a predetermined system call instruction, the CPU notifies the task control circuit accordingly. When informed of the execution of a system call instruction, the task control circuit selects a task to be subsequently executed in accordance with an output from the selection circuit. When an interrupt circuit receives a high-speed interrupt request signal, the task switching circuit controls the state transition of a task by executing an interrupt handling instruction designated by the interrupt circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Naotaka Maruyama
  • Patent number: 9092273
    Abstract: A multicore processor system includes a processor configured to detect any among a switching process and an assignment process of applications in a multicore processor; acquire upon detecting any among the switching process and the assignment process, a priority level concerning execution of each application assigned to each core of the multicore processor and number of accesses of a shared resource shared by the multicore processor; determine an access ratio of an application whose priority level is highest to each of application remaining after excluding the application whose priority level is highest, among the assigned applications, by comparing the number of accesses by each remaining application and the number of accesses by the application whose priority level is highest; notify an arbiter circuit of the determined access ratios; and arbitrate using the arbiter circuit, the access of the shared resource by the multicore processor, based on the access ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Koji Kurihara, Koichiro Yamashita, Kiyoshi Miyazaki, Hitoshi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9081630
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a request to access a resource; determining a presence of a memory buffer in a hardware-assisted memory pool; and determining a response to the request to access the resource based on the presence of the memory buffer. A system includes a plurality of processors, a resource, and a hardware-assisted memory pool including a memory buffer; one of the plurality of processors receives a request to access the resource, determines a presence of the memory buffer, and determines a response to the request to access the resource based on the presence of the memory buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: WIND RIVER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Markus Carlstedt, Kenneth Jonsson, Rikard Mendel
  • Patent number: 9069614
    Abstract: A method is provided for using a temporary object handle. The method performed at a resource manager includes: receiving an open temporary handle request from an application for a resource object, wherein a temporary handle can by asynchronously invalidated by the resource manager at any time; and creating a handle control block at the resource manager for the object, including an indication that the handle is a temporary handle. The method then includes: responsive to receiving a request from an application to use a handle, which has been invalidated by the resource manager, sending a response to the application that the handle is invalidated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Cullen, Andrew Hickson, Gary Longerstaey, Stuart Reece
  • Patent number: 9053521
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided. The image processing apparatus for image signal processor (ISP) realization may include a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) for each function module. A unified SRAM to store at least one line data of an input image for each of a plurality of functions modules within the image processing apparatus is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young-Sun Jeon, Ho Jin Lee, Joon Hyuk Cha, Shi Hwa Lee, Young Su Moon, Hyun Sang Park
  • Patent number: 9037767
    Abstract: An arbiter configured to selectively grant access to a shared bus to a plurality of requestors. The arbiter includes a plurality of request shapers each configured to receive a request signal corresponding to a request, from a respective one of the plurality of requestors, to access the shared bus, a base priority signal indicating a base priority level of the respective one of the plurality of requestors, and a delta period signal indicating a counter value threshold. The counter value threshold corresponds to a threshold amount of time, and the counter value threshold is different for each of the plurality of requestors. Each of the plurality of request shapes is configured to separately output the request signal and a priority signal indicating a priority level of the request based on the base priority level, the counter value threshold, and a counter value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: MARVELL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventor: Bhaskar Chowdhuri
  • Patent number: 9015516
    Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to storing event data and a time value in memory with an event logging module. Example embodiments of the event logging module include event command storage, clock command storage, and memory command storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Ted A Hadley
  • Patent number: 9003092
    Abstract: A bus system of a system on chip (SoC) includes a first and a second masters, a first slave, and a first and a second control modules. The control modules generates a first and a second access control state signals in response to a first locking access preparation request signal from a corresponding master. The access control signals are broadcasted between the first and the second control modules through a communication channel. A method of operating a bus system in a locked access mode includes allowing one of masters to access one of slaves through a control module and restricting other masters from accessing the one of slaves through other control modules connecting the other masters and the one of slaves in accordance with a control state signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-min Hong, Jae-geun Yun
  • Patent number: 8990466
    Abstract: An arbiter can be used for processing a plurality of asynchronous data signals. Each data signal is associated with a request signal and a respective acknowledge signal. The arbiter includes a latch array with an input coupled to receive the data signals and request signals and an output coupled to provide a data vector and a validity vector. The data vector includes values depending on the data signals and the validity vector includes values depending on the request signals when the latch array is in a transparent state. Logic circuitry is configured to trigger the latch array when any of the request signals becomes active, to activate a global request signal a delay time after the latch has been triggered, and to selectively activate the acknowledge signals for a channel or channels for which an active request signal has been latched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventor: Tommaso Bacigalupo
  • Patent number: 8984194
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Numia Medical Technology LLC
    Inventors: Duane E. Allen, James Jay Allen
  • Patent number: 8977795
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with managing access to critical sections in a multithread processor are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a register configured to store i) respective resource identifiers that identify respective resources and ii) respective priorities for respective resource identifiers. The apparatus includes a managing module logic configured to receive a blocking instruction for a first resource having a first resource identifier that is associated with a first task, access the register to determine a priority associated with the first resource identifier, select one or more dependent resources based, at least in part on the priority associated with first resource identifier, and block the first resource and the dependent resources. In this manner the first task is granted access to the first resource and the dependent resources while other tasks are prevented from accessing the first resource and the dependent resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Olaf Mater, Sascha Schmeckenbecher
  • Patent number: 8972989
    Abstract: A virtualization mechanism in a first computer of the plurality of computers generates at least one virtual computer on the first computer. The virtualization mechanism in the first computer executes at least one of a first judgment and a second judgment when a request for activating a first virtual computer of the at least one virtual computer is received, the first judgment being for judging whether or not the activation of the first virtual computer is prohibited based on first information stored in a memory of the virtualization mechanism, and the second judgment being for judging whether or not an identifier included in a logic I/O adapter device assigned to the first virtual computer is invalid based on second information stored in the memory of the virtualization mechanism. The activation of the first virtual computer is permitted or prohibited based on the executed judgment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoko Ikegaya, Tomoki Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 8959269
    Abstract: A data and signal interface for controlling the transfer of data and signals between a memory array and macro function such as that of a digital signal processor (DSP) core. In one embodiment, the interface comprises a plurality of memory ports which interface with X/Y memory banks, a plurality of function ports, each with a function controller, which interface with DSP functions, a crossbar connecting the memory and function ports, and an arbitration unit for arbitrating memory access by the function ports. The memory interface advantageously allows multiple simultaneous accesses of memory banks via a plurality of macro functions, each access under the control of a parent processor instruction. A standardized protocol used for memory read/write operations is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventor: David Latta
  • Patent number: 8954642
    Abstract: A signal transfer circuit comprising a control signal transfer unit configured to output an access request output signal and a memory address output signal to the arbiter after timings of the access request input signal of the access request and the memory address input signal input from the bus master have been adjusted, and output an access permission output signal, and a data signal transfer unit configured to output each data output signal to the corresponding bus master or the arbiter after a timing of each data input signal of the access request input from the arbiter or the bus master is adjusted, and output a data validity period output signal to the bus master after a timing of a data validity period input signal indicating a period in which each data is valid in the access request input from the arbiter is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Nakazono, Masami Shimamura, Yoshinobu Tanaka, Akira Ueno
  • Patent number: 8930603
    Abstract: Interruption facility for adjunct processor queues. In response to a queue transitioning from a no replies pending state to a reply pending state, an interruption is initiated. This interruption signals to a processor that a reply to a request is waiting on the queue. In order for the queue to take advantage of the interruption capability, it is enabled for interruptions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles W. Gainey, Jr., Klaus Meissner, Damian L. Osisek, Klaus Werner
  • Patent number: 8930601
    Abstract: A transaction routing device (e.g. an interconnect) for routing transactions in an integrated circuit includes arbitration circuitry for performing arbitration between a plurality of candidate transactions using attribute values associated with the candidate transactions. Candidate transactions are selected for routing to a destination device in dependence on the arbitration. In a cycle in which a new candidate transaction is received, the arbitration is performed using a default attribute value as the attribute value for the new transaction. Meanwhile, the actual attribute value is stored to an attribute storage unit. In a following processing cycle, if the new candidate transaction has not yet been selected for muting, then the arbitration is performed using the actual attribute value stored in the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventor: Arthur Laughton
  • Patent number: 8930602
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving requests from requestors in an arbiter, detecting that none of the requestors have a qualified request for at least one cycle of an arbitration round, and preventing a grant count reload of grant counters associated with the when at least one of the requestors has available grants for the arbitration round. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Kie Woon Lim, E-Liang Chew, Khee Wooi Lee, Darren L. Abramson
  • Patent number: 8924751
    Abstract: A method is provided for a SAS (Serial Attached SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)) expander to manage power consumption of a wide port that includes multiple expander phys each operable in at least three power conditions. The method includes monitoring number of AIP primitives for the wide port over time, changing at least one expander phy to a lower power condition when the number of AIP primitives total less than a first threshold over a first period of time, and changing at least one expander phy to a higher power condition when the number of AIP primitives total more than a second threshold over a second period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael G. Myrah, Balaji Natrajan, Pruthviraj Herur Puttaiah
  • Patent number: 8924613
    Abstract: A data processing device includes a master arbitrating unit assigning information to a command sent from a selected bus master, a data buffer, a write command buffer, a read command buffer, a write data reception completion notification control unit issuing a signal indicating that storing of write data is complete, and a command order determining unit selecting whichever of a first command and a second command coming earlier in an order identified with the information, the first information being information for which the completion is indicated by the signal and a second command being a read command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8918786
    Abstract: A multiprocessing system executes a plurality of processes concurrently. A process execution circuit (10) issues requests to access a shared resource (16) from the processes. A shared access circuit (14) sequences conflicting ones of the requests. A simulating access circuit (12) generates signals to stall at least one of the processes at simulated stall time points selected as a predetermined function of requests from only the at least one of the processes and/or the timing of the requests from only the at least one of the processes, irrespective of whether said stalling is made necessary by sequencing of conflicting ones of the requests. Thus, part from predetermined maximum response times, predetermined average timing can be guaranteed, independent of the combination of processes that is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: NXP, B.V.
    Inventors: Marco J. G. Bekooij, Jan W. Van Den Brand
  • Patent number: 8856415
    Abstract: In a real-time application, one or more computational tasks execute according to a time schedule and use input data from input devices and/or output data from output devices. One or more of the input devices or output devices may be unscheduled devices that attempt to access the peripheral bus at unscheduled times. Such unscheduled bus access can cause the time schedule to become comprised. Various methods for arbitrating access to the bus to better integrate the bus access with the time schedule followed by the application are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Sundeep Chandhoke
  • Patent number: 8843682
    Abstract: Described embodiments provide arbitration for a cache of a network processor. Processing modules of the network processor generate memory access requests including a requested address and an ID value corresponding to the requesting processing module. Each request is either a locked request or a simple request. An arbiter determines whether the received requests are locked requests. For each locked request, the arbiter determines whether two or more of the requests are conflicted based on the requested address of each received memory requests. If one or more of the requests are non-conflicted, the arbiter determines, for each non-conflicted request, whether the requested addresses are locked out by prior memory requests based on a lock table. If one or more of the non-conflicted memory requests are locked-out by prior memory requests, the arbiter queues the locked-out memory requests. The arbiter grants any non-conflicted memory access requests that are not locked-out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventor: Shashank Nemawarkar
  • Publication number: 20140281086
    Abstract: An arbiter can be used for processing a plurality of asynchronous data signals. Each data signal is associated with a request signal and a respective acknowledge signal. The arbiter includes a latch array with an input coupled to receive the data signals and request signals and an output coupled to provide a data vector and a validity vector. The data vector includes values depending on the data signals and the validity vector includes values depending on the request signals when the latch array is in a transparent state. Logic circuitry is configured to trigger the latch array when any of the request signals becomes active, to activate a global request signal a delay time after the latch has been triggered, and to selectively activate the acknowledge signals for a channel or channels for which an active request signal has been latched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Tommaso Bacigalupo, Torsten Hinz
  • Patent number: 8838863
    Abstract: The present application relates to a method for resource controlling comprising controlling the processing of requests of a first category having a first priority. The method comprises controlling the processing of requests of a second category having a second priority, wherein the first priority is set such that processing the requests of the first category has priority over processing the requests of the second category. The method comprises blocking requests of the first category by a mechanism that detects when a predefined condition regarding the service provided to the second category is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomas Henriksson, Elisabeth Francisca Maria Steffens
  • Patent number: 8818276
    Abstract: Example method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed to enable granting access rights to guest devices. Example embodiments include a method comprising receiving, by a first device, an input from a user of the first device to grant access rights to a wireless short-range communication network to a user of a second device when the first device is present within coverage of the wireless short-range communication network; and transmitting, by the first device, an access grant message to a control node managing the wireless short-range communication network, wherein the access grant message comprises one or more rules indicating that access rights for a second device are to be granted only when the first device is present within coverage of the wireless short-range communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Niko Kiukkonen, Janne Marin, Jukka Reunamaki, Sverre Slotte
  • Patent number: 8769176
    Abstract: A system including a first communication module to transmit or receive data via an antenna in accordance with a first communication standard; a second communication module to transmit or receive data via the antenna in accordance with a second communication standard; and an arbitration module. The arbitration module outputs a first mutual grant where both the first communication module and the second communication module are able to simultaneously transmit data via the antenna; a second mutual grant where both the first communication module and the second communication module are able to simultaneously receive data via the antenna; a third mutual grant where the first communication module and the second communication module are able to simultaneously transmit and receive data, respectively, via the antenna; and a fourth mutual grant where the first communication module and the second communication module are able to simultaneously receive and transmit data, respectively, via the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Gladys Yuen Yan Wong, Timothy J. Donovan, Timothy Li, Ken Yeung
  • Patent number: 8769546
    Abstract: Method to selectively assign a reduced busy-wait time to threads is described. The method comprises determining whether at least one thread is spinning on a mutex lock associated with a condition variable and assigning, when the at least one thread is spinning on the mutex lock, a predetermined reduced busy-wait time for a subsequent thread spinning on the mutex lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Rakesh Sasidharan Nair, Sherin Thyil George, Aswin Chandramouleeswaran
  • Publication number: 20140181343
    Abstract: Structured block transfer module, system architecture, and method for transferring content or data. Circuit allowing content in one memory to be shifted, moved, or copied to another memory with no direction from a host, the circuit comprising: a connection manager, at least one copy engine, and a connection between the connection manager and the copy engine. Method for transferring the contents of one of a number of blocks of source memory to one of a number of possible destination memories comprising: selecting source memory; selecting available destination memory; marking the selected destination as no longer available; copying contents of selected source memory into selected destination memory; and marking selected source as available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Attias, William Charles Jordan, Bryon Irwin Moyer, Stephen John Joseph Fricke, Akash Renukadas Deshpande, Navendu Sinha, Vineet Gupta, Shobhit Sonakiya
  • Patent number: 8756608
    Abstract: A method, a system, an apparatus, and a computer program product for allocating resources of one or more shared devices to one or more partitions of a virtualization environment within a data processing system. At least one user defined resource assignment is received for one or more devices associated with the data processing system. One or more registers, associated with the one or more partitions are dynamically set to execute the at least one resource assignment, whereby the at least one resource assignment enables a user defined quantitative measure (number and/or percentage) of devices to operate when the one or more transactions are executed via the partition. The system enables the one or more devices to execute one or more transactions at a bandwidth/capacity that is less than or equal to the user defined resource assignment and minimizes performance interference among partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Elmootazbellah N. Elnozahy, Ramakrishnan Rajamony, William E. Speight, Lixin Zhang
  • Patent number: 8751715
    Abstract: A system, computer-implemented method, and a computer program product for regulating control of a slave device on a communications bus includes monitoring for a request for control of the slave device by a master device. Control of the slave device is granted to the master device. Control of the slave device is relinquished by the master device after the occurrence of a relinquishment event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: ENC Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Anton Shubel
  • Patent number: 8745335
    Abstract: Memory arbiter with latency guarantees for multiple ports. A method of controlling access to an electronic memory includes measuring a latency value indicative of a time difference between origination of an access request from a port of a plurality of ports and a response from the electronic memory. The method also includes calculating a difference between the latency value for the port and a target value associated with the port. The method further includes calculating a running sum of differences for the port covering each of a plurality of access requests. Further, the method includes determining a delta of a priority value for the port based on the running sum of differences. Moreover, the method includes prioritizing the access by the plurality of ports according to associated priority values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Pieter Van Der Wolf, Marc Jeroen Geuzebroek, Johannes Boonstra