Abstract: For one disclosed embodiment, a transition from a first state to a second, different state for at least a portion of a downstream device may be identified. The first and second states may correspond to different levels relating to activity for at least a portion of the downstream device. Data corresponding to a service latency may be transmitted to an upstream device in response to the identified transition for one or more upstream devices to manage power based at least in part on the service latency. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus for entering an activity alignment on state from an activity alignment off state; masking one or more traffic flows that are received during at least a part of the activity alignment on state; and entering the activity alignment off state from the activity alignment on state, after being in the activity alignment on state for at least a first time period, based at least in part on said masking the one or more traffic flows. Additional variants and embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: For one disclosed embodiment, data corresponding to an idle duration for one or more downstream devices may be received. Power may be managed based at least in part on the received data. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: For one disclosed embodiment, a transition from a first state to a second, different state for at least a portion of a downstream device may be identified. The first and second states may correspond to different levels relating to activity for at least a portion of the downstream device. Data corresponding to a service latency may be transmitted to an upstream device in response to the identified transition for one or more upstream devices to manage power based at least in part on the service latency. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus for entering an activity alignment on state from an activity alignment off state; masking one or more traffic flows that are received during at least a part of the activity alignment on state; and entering the activity alignment off state from the activity alignment on state, after being in the activity alignment on state for at least a first time period, based at least in part on said masking the one or more traffic flows. Additional variants and embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: For one disclosed embodiment, data corresponding to an idle duration for one or more downstream devices may be received. Power may be managed based at least in part on the received data. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: For one disclosed embodiment, a transition from a first state to a second, different state for at least a portion of a downstream device may be identified. The first and second states may correspond to different levels relating to activity for at least a portion of the downstream device. Data corresponding to a service latency may be transmitted to an upstream device in response to the identified transition for one or more upstream devices to manage power based at least in part on the service latency. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system includes a docking base unit having a first processor and a portable computing device that is dockable to the docking base unit that includes a second processor. A module identifies the number of processors in the system once the portable computing device is docked to the docking base unit and configures the system as a multiprocessor system if more than one processor is identified.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a signal from a first voltage level to a second voltage level before providing the signal to a processor. A circuit board includes an interface for coupling the circuit board to a peripheral subsystem via a socket. The circuit board also includes a processor that receives signals of a first voltage level, a first signal line, and a second signal line. The first signal line is coupled to the interface and provides a reference signal to the peripheral subsystem that indicates the first voltage level. The second signal line is also coupled to the interface and provides a subsystem signal back from the peripheral subsystem after the signal has been converted to the first voltage level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for upgrading a computer system from one processor generation to another processor generation. The processor and its corresponding primary bridge are included together on the same circuit board. The circuit board has an interface which can be inserted into a socket of a system. The interface socket includes the memory bus and peripheral component bus from the bridge.

Abstract: A computer system that implements a direct memory access (DMA) request passing protocol. The computer system may comprise a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus that includes an electrical interface as specified by a PCI Local Bus standard. The PCI bus is coupled to at least one DMA agent and a DMA controller. The DMA agent issues DMA requests to the DMA controller using the electrical interface of the PCI bus. According to one embodiment, a system I/O controller receives the DMA requests and passes them on to the DMA controller, which arbitrates the DMA requests and passes back a grant to the system I/O controller. The system I/O controller uses the electrical interface of the PCI bus to pass the grant to the DMA agent. The same DMA request passing protocol may be implemented in any bus having an electrical interface that specifies a unique request signal line for each bus agent of the bus.

Abstract: A computer system performs direct memory access (DMA) transfers according to a DMA transfer protocol. The computer system may comprise a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus that includes an electrical interface as specified by a PCI Local Bus standard. A DMA agent, system memory, and a DMA controller are coupled to the bus. The DMA controller uses the electrical interface of the PCI bus to control a DMA transfer between system memory and the DMA agent. According to one embodiment, a system I/O controller is coupled between the DMA controller and the PCI bus. The system I/O controller passes DMA control information from the DMA controller to the DMA agent using the electrical interface of the PCI bus. The electrical interface of the PCI bus includes a plurality of address lines and a grant signal line coupled to the DMA agent, wherein the system that I/O controller transmits DMA control information to the DMA agent while asserting the grant signal line.

Abstract: A computer system that implements a direct memory access (DMA) request passing protocol. The computer system may comprise a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus that includes an electrical interface as specified by a PCI Local Bus standard. The PCI bus is coupled to at least one DMA agent and a DMA controller. The DMA agent issues DMA requests to the DMA controller using the electrical interface of the PCI bus. According to one embodiment, a system I/O controller receives the DMA requests and passes them on to the DMA controller, which arbitrates the DMA requests and passes back a grant to the system I/O controller. The system I/O controller uses the electrical interface of the PCI bus to pass the grant to the DMA agent. The same DMA request passing protocol may be implemented in any bus having an electrical interface that specifies a unique request signal line for each bus agent of the bus.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for arbitration to enable split transaction bus protocols provides for a slave to assert a mask signal that sets a mask bit in a mask register when the slave is not ready to complete a requested transaction. A requesting master is forced off the bus and prevented from re-arbitrating while the mask bit is set in the register. When the slave is ready to complete the transaction, a release master signal is asserted which causes the bit in the shift register to be reset. The requesting master is then able to re-arbitrate for use of the bus to complete the transaction. The usable bandwidth of the bus is increased since other masters are able to arbitrate and use the bus until the slave is ready to complete the transaction with the first requesting master.