Abstract: An integrated circuit includes receive circuits for receiving packets, transmit circuits for transmitting packets, a packet DMA circuit for communicating packets to and from a memory controller, and a switch for selectively coupling the receive circuits to transmit circuits. The integrated circuit may flexibly merge and split the packet streams to provide for various packet processing/packet routing functions to be applied to different packets within the packet streams. An apparatus may include two or more of the integrated circuits, which may communicate packets between respective receive and transmit circuits.

Abstract: A multiple processor device generates a control packet for at least one connectionless-based packet in partial accordance with a control packet format of the connection-based point-to-point link and partially not in accordance with the control packet format. For instance, the multiple processor device generates the control packet to include, in noncompliance with the control packet format, one or more of an indication that at least one connectionless-based packet is being transported, an indication of a virtual channel of a plurality of virtual channels associated with the at least one connectionless-based packet, an indication of an amount of data included in the associated data packet, status of the at least one connectionless-based packet, and an error status indication.

Abstract: A multiple processor device generates a control packet for at least one connectionless-based packet in partial accordance with a control packet format of the connection-based point-to-point link and partially not in accordance with the control packet format. For instance, the multiple processor device generates the control packet to include, in noncompliance with the control packet format, one or more of an indication that at least one connectionless-based packet is being transported, an indication of a virtual channel of a plurality of virtual channels associated with the at least one connectionless-based packet, an indication of an amount of data included in the associated data packet, status of the at least one connectionless-based packet, and an error status indication.

Abstract: A method for receiving data from a plurality of virtual channels begins by storing a stream of data as a plurality of data segments, wherein the stream of data includes multiplexed data fragments from at least one of the plurality of virtual channels, and wherein a data segment of the plurality of data segments corresponds to one of the multiplexed data fragments. The method continues by decoding at least one of the plurality of data segments in accordance with one of a plurality of data transmission protocols to produce at least one decoded data segment. The method continues by storing the at least one decoded data segment, in a generic format, to reassemble at least a portion of a packet provided by the at least one of the plurality of virtual channels. The method continues by routing the at least one decoded data segment as at least part of the reassembled packet to one of a plurality of destinations in accordance with the at least one of the plurality of virtual channels.

Abstract: A re-assembly buffer for use in interim storage of aligned data and to reassemble data output onto a wider internal data path, in which the width of the data path is determined to have sufficient bandwidth to account for frequency scaling of received data rate to frequency of the data path and fragmentation of data for alignment onto the data path. The buffer may be is arranged into arrays using single read port, single write port memory devices.

Abstract: A dual mode digital interface supports the HyperTransport Standard and at least one other interface standard. The dual mode digital interface includes a plurality of data line deskew/sampling blocks, a data group deskew module, and an enablement control module. The plurality of data line deskew/sampling blocks deskew and sample incoming data on respective data lines based upon a clock signal to produce deskewed data. The data group deskew module receives deskewed data from each of the plurality of data line deskew/sampling blocks and removes inter-data line skew from the deskewed data to produce received data. The plurality of data line deskew/sampling blocks and the data group deskew module can be configured in a first mode when supporting an aspect of the HyperTransport Standard and configured in a second mode when supporting the at least one other interface standard.

Abstract: A dual mode digital interface supports the HyperTransport Standard and at least one other interface standard. The dual mode digital interface includes a physical interface, a plurality of data line amplifiers, a clock line amplifier, a plurality of data line deskew/sampling blocks, a data group deskew module, and an enablement control module. The plurality of data line deskew/sampling blocks deskew and sample incoming data on respective data lines based upon a clock signal to produce deskewed data. The data group deskew module receives deskewed data from each of the plurality of data line deskew/sampling blocks and removes inter data line skew from the deskewed data to produce received data. The plurality of data line deskew/sampling blocks and the data group deskew module may be set based upon a training sequence received from a link partner. The training sequence may received during startup or reset, immediately after startup or reset completes, or may be received periodically during training intervals.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a first system and a second system. The first system includes a first plurality of interface circuits, and each of the first plurality of interface circuits is configured to couple to a separate interface. The second system includes a second plurality of interface circuits, and each of the second plurality of interface circuits is configured to couple to a separate interface. A first interface circuit of the first plurality of interface circuits and a second interface circuit of the second plurality of interface circuits are coupled to a first interface. Both the first interface circuit and the second interface circuit are configured to communicate packets, coherency commands, and noncoherent commands on the first interface.

Abstract: According to the present invention, the multiple processor device determines routing for a plurality of data segments. In determining the routing, the multiple processor device first receives the plurality of data segments. The plurality of data segments include multiplexed data fragments from at least one of a plurality of virtual channels. Further, a data segment of the plurality of data segments corresponds to one of the multiplexed data fragments. The multiple processor device then applies at least one routing rule to one of the plurality of data segments to produce at least one result corresponding to the one of the plurality of data segments. The multiple processor device then interprets the at least one result to determine whether sufficient information is available to render a routing decision for the one of the plurality of data segments.

Abstract: A multiple processor device stores a stream of data as a plurality of data segments, which includes multiplexed data fragments from at least one of a plurality of virtual channels. The data segments that comprise the stream of data correspond to the multiplexed data fragments from the virtual channels. The multiple processor device then decodes at least one data segment in accordance with one of a plurality of transmission protocols to produce a decoded data segment. The multiple processor device then stores the decoded data segment to align it in accordance with a data path segment size. The multiple processor device then interprets the stored decoded data segment with respect to a corresponding one of the plurality of virtual channels to determine a destination of the stored decoded data segment. The multiple processor device then stores the decoded data segment as part of reassembled data.

Abstract: A data aligner aligns a data segment having a granularity of less than a width of an internal data path. The data aligner aligns a fragment of data for alignment with a current segment or delay the fragment to combine with a next segment for alignment of data. A buffer receives the aligned data from the data aligner for interim storage and subsequent output onto an internal data path.

Abstract: A system for servicing packet data transactions and input/output transactions includes an input port, an output port, a node controller, a packet manager, and a switching module. The input port is receives communications from a communicatively coupled processing device that include packet data transactions and input/output transactions. The output port transmits communications to a communicatively coupled processing device that include packet data transactions and input/output transactions. The node controller communicatively couples to a system bus of the processing device and services input/output transactions. The packet manager communicatively couples to the system bus of the processing device and services packet data transactions. A switching module communicatively couples to the input port, the output port, the node controller, and the packet manager and services the exchange of transaction cells among the input port, the output port, the node controller, and the packet manager.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes receive circuits for receiving packets, transmit circuits for transmitting packets, a packet DMA circuit for communicating packets to and from a memory controller, and a switch for selectively coupling the receive circuits to transmit circuits. The integrated circuit may flexibly merge and split the packet streams to provide for various packet processing/packet routing functions to be applied to different packets within the packet streams. An apparatus may include two or more of the integrated circuits, which may communicate packets between respective receive and transmit circuits.

Abstract: A system for servicing data transactions within a processing device using common data paths. The system is broadly comprised of: a plurality of source agents operable to transmit a plurality of data cells; a plurality of destination agents operable to of data cells; a plurality of virtual channels for transporting data cells between the source agents and the destination agents; and a switch. The switch is operable to connect predetermined combinations of the source agents and the destination agents for the transmission of data. The switch generates a plurality of switch processing cycles and processes a plurality of control signals during the switch processing cycles.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a first system and a second system. The first system includes a first plurality of interface circuits, and each of the first plurality of interface circuits is configured to couple to a separate interface. The second system includes a second plurality of interface circuits, and each of the second plurality of interface circuits is configured to couple to a separate interface. A first interface circuit of the first plurality of interface circuits and a second interface circuit of the second plurality of interface circuits are coupled to a first interface. Both the first interface circuit and the second interface circuit are configured to communicate packets, coherency commands, and noncoherent commands on the first interface.

Abstract: A method for receiving data from a plurality of virtual channels begins by storing a stream of data as a plurality of data segments, wherein the stream of data includes multiplexed data fragments from at least one of the plurality of virtual channels, and wherein a data segment of the plurality of data segments corresponds to one of the multiplexed data fragments. The method continues by decoding at least one of the plurality of data segments in accordance with one of a plurality of data transmission protocols to produce at least one decoded data segment. The method continues by storing the at least one decoded data segment, in a generic format, to reassemble at least a portion of a packet provided by the at least one of the plurality of virtual channels. The method continues by routing the at least one decoded data segment as at least part of the reassembled packet to one of a plurality of destinations in accordance with the at least one of the plurality of virtual channels.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes receive circuits for receiving packets, transmit circuits for transmitting packets, a packet DMA circuit for communicating packets to and from a memory controller, and a switch for selectively coupling the receive circuits to transmit circuits. The integrated circuit may flexibly merge and split the packet streams to provide for various packet processing/packet routing functions to be applied to different packets within the packet streams. An apparatus may include two or more of the integrated circuits, which may communicate packets between respective receive and transmit circuits.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a first system and a second system. The first system includes a first plurality of interface circuits, and each of the first plurality of interface circuits is configured to couple to a separate interface. The second system includes a second plurality of interface circuits, and each of the second plurality of interface circuits is configured to couple to a separate interface. A first interface circuit of the first plurality of interface circuits and a second interface circuit of the second plurality of interface circuits are coupled to a first interface. Both the first interface circuit and the second interface circuit are configured to communicate packets, coherency commands, and noncoherent commands on the first interface.

Abstract: A shared memory system includes a plurality of processing nodes and a packetized input/output link. Each of the plurality of processing nodes includes a processing resource and memory. The packetized I/O link operably couples the plurality of processing nodes together. One of the plurality of processing nodes is operably coupled to: initiate coherent memory transactions such that another one of plurality of processing nodes has access to a home memory section of the memory of the one of the plurality of processing nodes; and facilitate transmission of a coherency transaction packet between the memory of the one of the plurality of processing nodes and the another one of the plurality of processing nodes over the packetized I/O link.

Abstract: A shared memory system includes a plurality of processing nodes and a packetized input/output link. Each of the plurality of processing nodes includes a processing resource and memory. The packetized I/O link operably couples the plurality of processing nodes together. One of the plurality of processing nodes is operably coupled to: initiate coherent memory transactions such that another one of plurality of processing nodes has access to a home memory section of the memory of the one of the plurality of processing nodes; and facilitate transmission of a coherency transaction packet between the memory of the one of the plurality of processing nodes and the another one of the plurality of processing nodes over the packetized I/O link.