Abstract: Bus transactions in a memory controller are scheduled by storing a set of configuration parameters that define a bus scheduling policy, generating values of a set of dynamic cost functions for each bus transaction, ordering the bus transactions in accordance with the bus scheduling policy to produce ordered bus transactions and generating a memory transaction that is derived from the ordered bus transactions. The memory controller includes one or more control registers for storing the set of configuration parameters, a bus interface operable to capture bus transactions from applications, a set of buffers operable to store the bus transactions and the set of dynamic cost functions and one or more registers operable to store the statistical data and a cost policy. The memory controller selects the order of the bus transactions based on an arbitration and selection policy and generates memory transactions to an external memory.

Abstract: An advanced programmable interrupt controller (APIC) identification (ID) configuration method is applied to a multiprocessor computer system. The method assigns a postponed ID to each CPU's APIC IDs respectively during the initialization. Plural reserved IDs are assigned to the I/O APICs. A multiprocessor configuration table in a basic input output system (BIOS) will be updated with renewed ID configuration, to avoid an ID conflict when processing the interrupt request from the peripheral devices and raise the stability of the multiprocessor computer system.

Abstract: A data bus structure for a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) according to the present invention includes a series of data buses, each shared by a plurality of memory banks, and a switching device to selectively couple the data buses to a global data bus to enable the memory device to provide and receive data. The data bus structure conserves space on a chip or die and prevents significant timing skews for data accessed from different memory banks.

Abstract: In a bus system, in accordance with reservations of transfers of isochronous blocks of data and with requests by the node devices for transfers of ones of the isochronous blocks of data and regular blocks of data, a bus manager generates a schedule of the operating rate of a bus channel, the frequency of assignment of the bus channel, and the size of a continuously transferred piece of data on the bus channel for each of the blocks of data, so that the piece of data is transferred at the operating rate of the bus channel as low as possible in each transfer cycle.

Abstract: An interrupt controller is provided for processing interrupt requests in a system having a plurality of data processing units operable to service those interrupt requests, each interrupt request having an associated priority level. The interrupt controller comprises request logic operable to receive an indication of unserviced interrupt requests, to apply predetermined criteria to determine which of said plurality of data processing units are candidate data processing units for servicing at least one of said unserviced interrupt requests, and to issue a request signal to each said candidate data processing unit. Priority encoding logic is operable to determine a highest priority unserviced interrupt request based on the associated priority levels of the unserviced interrupt requests.

Abstract: There is provided a distributed peer-to-peer communication system for interconnect busses of a computer system. More specifically, there is provided a method comprising transmitting a request to establish an isochronous channel between a first device and a second device, establishing the isochronous channel between the first device and the second device, and generating an isochronous transaction across the isochronous channel between the first device and the second device, wherein the isochronous transaction is a message type transaction.

Abstract: A bridge comprises an interface to a plurality of hosts, an interface to a single-ported storage drive and arbitration logic. The arbitration logic controls and permits concurrent access by the hosts to the single-ported storage drive so that the bridge need not store read or write data being received from or provided to the storage drive.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an adapter unit for a personal digital assistant. More specifically, this invention relates to an adapter unit that provides additional functionality, and improved ergonomics and increased ruggedness to the personal digital assistant. The additional functionality includes the ability to automatically change the function of one or more of the application buttons on the personal digital assistant upon the attachment of the adapter unit.

Abstract: Supporting multiple graphics processing units (GPUs) comprises a first path coupled to a north bridge device (or a root complex device) and a first GPU, which may include a portion of the first GPU's total communication lanes. A second communication path may be coupled to the north bridge device and a second GPU and may include a portion of the second GPU's total communication lanes. A third communication path may be coupled between the first and second GPUs directly or through one or more switches that can be configured for single or multiple GPU operations. The third communication path may include some or all of the remaining communication lanes for the first and second GPUs. As a nonlimiting example, the first and second GPUs may each utilize an 8-lane PCI express communication path with the north bridge device and an 8-lane PCI express communication path with each other.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for an improved priority encoder using only static circuit components. Features and aspects hereof rely exclusively on static logic circuits exclusive ROM and other memory structures as relied on in prior structures. The exemplary static circuit structures relied upon in accordance with features and aspects hereof are less susceptible to leakage current and other issues common in high density integrated circuit applications. Thus, features and aspects hereof avoid use of ROM and other similar memory devices in favor of digital encoders comprised of static logic circuits cascaded through multiplexers to provide priority encoding in digital circuit applications coupling multiple devices to a shared, common bus structure.

Abstract: A motherboard includes a south-bridge chipset, a north-bridge chipset and a central processor unit (CPU). The south-bridge chipset generates at least control-setting data. The north-bridge chipset has a reset register for controlling the north-bridge chipset to generate a reset signal and a control-set resister for storing the control-setting data generated by the south-bridge chipset. The CPU has a plurality of configuration parameters. The configuration parameters of the CPU are reset in accordance with the reset signal, and the control-setting data is written into the CPU by the north-bridge chipset to set one of the configuration parameters of the CPU.

Abstract: A multiplexed computer peripheral device connection switching interface is proposed, which is designed for use with a clustering computer system equipped with a plurality of independent processing units, such as a blade server system equipped with a plurality of server modules; and which is characterized by the capability of allowing a set of peripheral devices (i.e., keyboard and mouse) to be shared by the multiple server modules in a multiplexed manner without having to utilize the more restrictive and lowly compatible USB-to-PS2 converter. This feature allows the multiplexed computer peripheral device connection switching interface of the invention to have a higher cross-platform capability across server platforms with different operating systems.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for initiating and using information used for a host, control unit, and logical device connections receiving a request to create a host port to control unit port connection. In a volume group data structure, a volume group entry is defined having a plurality of pointers for the host port and control unit port pair. At least one device address is added to the volume group that is accessible to the host port and control unit port connection by initializing at least one pointer in the volume group entry to address at least one device data structure. For each of the at least one device addresses, indication is made in the at least one device data structure addressed by the at least one pointer in the volume group entry that the device address is accessible to the host port and control unit port connection.

Abstract: According to the IEEE1394 bus protocol, priority is given to isochronous data packets. Data transfer is done in transfer cycles under the control of a cycle master. It depends on the allocated bandwidth for isochronous data how much transport capacity is available in a transfer cycle. To managed the mixed data transfer in one cycle it is specified that the bus nodes not having isochronous data to transfer need to wait with their transmission requests until the end of the isochronous data transfers in the cycle indicated with a sub-action gap. The invention aims to improve the efficiency of data transport for the case that none of the bus nodes need to transfer isochronous data. The data link layer devices according to the invention includes means for checking whether isochronous data is to be transferred and if not they switch over to a no cycle master state, in which the local cycle synchronization events are ignored.

Abstract: A method and apparatus includes identifying a first portion of a first message in a first slice of a switch, the first message associated with a first priority, the first portion of the first message including a first routing portion specifying a network resource; identifying a second portion of the first message in a second slice of the switch, the second portion of the first message including the first routing portion; identifying a first portion of a second message in the first slice, the second message associated with a second priority, the first portion of the second message including a second routing portion specifying the network resource; identifying a second portion of the second message in the second slice, the second portion of the second message including the second routing portion; selecting, independently in each slice, the same one of the first and second messages based on the first and second priorities; sending the first portion of the selected message from the first slice to the network reso

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip includes multiple functional components and a central interconnect (CI) module. Each functional component communicates with the CI module via a respective internal bus sharing a common architecture which does not dictate any particular data alignment. The chip architecture defines an alignment mechanism within the CI module, which performs any required alignment of transmitted data. Alignment mechanism design parameters can be varied to accommodate different alignment domains of different functional components. Preferably, the common bus architecture supports multiple internal bus widths, the CI module performing any required bus width conversion. Preferably, for certain transactions not containing a data address, correct alignment is obtained by placing restrictions on transaction size and boundaries, and duplicating certain data on different alignment boundaries.

Abstract: A data transfer interface includes facilities for a subsystem including the data transfer interface to internally prioritize transactions with other subsystems, using facilities of the data transfer interface. In one embodiment, the subsystem also includes with the transactions bus arbitration priorities to facilitate prioritization and granting of access to an on-chip bus to the contending transactions. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes the on-chip bus and a number of the subsystems interacting with each other through transactions across the on-chip bus.

Abstract: A disk array control device which includes a plurality of channel interface (IF) units, a plurality of disk IF units, a cache memory unit, and a shared memory unit. The connection system between the plurality of channel IF units and plurality of disk IF units and the cache memory unit is different from the connection system between the plurality of channel IF units and plurality of disk IF units and the shared memory unit. In the invention the plurality of channel IF units and the plurality of disk IF units are connected via a selector to the cache memory unit whereas the plurality of channel IF units and the plurality of disk IF units are directly connected to the shared memory unit with no selectors.

Abstract: A method for bi-directional transmission of data between a source and a sink over a two-wire interface includes re-mapping a data signal and a clock signal from a first local bus on the source into a different protocol signal. Transmitting the different protocol signal from the source to the sink over the two-wire interface. Re-mapping the different protocol signal back into the data signal and the clock signal for use on a second local bus on the sink. Re-mapping the data signal and the clock signal from the second local bus into the different protocol signal; and transmitting the different protocol signal from the sink to the source over the two-wire interface.

Abstract: A data processing system is provided with a bus having separate write channels W and read channels R via which bus transactions are made. Bus transaction buffers 34 are provided within the bus structure to buffer write requests, particularly so as to alleviate problems associated with relatively slow bus slaves. The bus transaction buffers 34 are responsive to the memory addresses associated with write requests and read requests which pass through them to identify those to the same memory address, or memory addresses within a predetermined range, so as to either ensure a strict correct ordering of those transactions, read to follow write, or to satisfy a read following a write with a buffered write data value and then flushing the read request such that it does not reach its final destination.