Abstract: A memory management unit (MMU) for a device controller that provides enhanced functionality while maintaining a small physical size or footprint, such that the die size required to manufacture the memory management unit circuitry within the device controller integrated circuit device remains small notwithstanding such enhanced functionality. This compact/tiny MMU provides virtual memory addressing and memory error detection functionality while maintaining a small physical die size. The small physical die size with enhanced functionality is obtained by improvements in translating virtual to physical addressing without use of extensive translation tables, which themselves would otherwise consume memory and associated die real estate. In addition, the MMU allows a firmware image containing code and data segments to be run-time swapped between internal shared context RAM and external memory.

Abstract: Methods and associated structures for bypassing virtual memory and memory mapping management features provided in a memory controller applied to simpler computing applications. In one aspect hereof, simpler, embedded computing applications may utilize standard memory controllers including cash management and memory component interfacing features but may bypass virtual memory management features within the same memory controller component. Rather, features and aspects hereof intercept memory accesses generated by the memory controller for address translation features and perform simpler address substitution to apply an appropriate translated address to the system bus.