Abstract: A computer interface extension configuration that includes a host having a motherboard, an extension transmitter card, and an extension receiver. The motherboard includes a first connector that allows motherboard signals to be shared internal to the host, and a second connector separate from the first connector that supports communications with the host. The extension transmitter card is positioned within the host and is electrically connected to the motherboard of the host via at least the first connector and the second connector. The extension transmitter card has an audio controller that interfaces with the second connector independent from communications that occur on the first connector. The extension receiver is connected to a plurality of user interface devices and is extensibly connected to the extension transmitter card.

Abstract: A point-to-point serial communication link between a system interface unit and a peripheral bus interface unit is provide. The system bus interface unit may interface between a CPU bus and a peripheral bus, such as the PCI bus, and may be referred to as a north bridge. The system interface unit may also interface to main memory and to an advanced graphics port. The peripheral bus interface unit may interface between a first peripheral bus, such as the PCI bus, and a second peripheral bus, such as an ISA bus, and may be referred to as a south bridge. The serial communication link between the system interface unit and the bus interface unit may be a one wire serial bus that uses a bus clock from the first peripheral bus as a timing reference. This clock may be the PCI clock. The serial communication link may use a single pin on the system interface unit and a single pin on the bus interface unit to transfer commands between the interface units.

Abstract: A system and technique for correcting data errors in a memory device. More specifically, data errors in a memory device are corrected by scrubbing the corrupted memory device. Generally, a host controller delivers a READ command to a memory controller. The memory controller receives the request and retrieves the data from a memory sub-system. The data is delivered to the host controller. If an error is detected, a scrub command is induced through the memory controller to rewrite the corrected data through the memory sub-system. Once a scrub command is induced, an arbiter schedules the scrub in the queue. Because a significant amount of time can occur before initial read in the scrub write back to the memory, an additional controller may be used to compare all subsequent READ and WRITE commands to those scrubs scheduled in the queue.

Abstract: A system and technique for detecting data errors in a memory device. More specifically, data errors in a memory device are detected by initiating an internal READ command or verify operation from a set of logic which is internal to the memory system in which the memory devices reside. Rather than relying on a READ command to be issued from an external device, via a host controller, the verify logic initiates verify routine in response to an event such as an operator instruction, hot-plug operation, or a periodic schedule. By implementing the verify operation, the system does not rely on external READ commands to verify data integrity. The verify routine may rely on typical ECC error logging mechanisms and may be used in a RAID memory architecture. Further, the verify routine may be used in conjunction with other error logging and correction logic, as well as scrubbing logic.

Abstract: A computer system includes a plurality of memory modules that contain semiconductor memory, such as DIMMs. The system includes a host/data controller that utilizes an XOR engine to store data and parity information in a striped fashion on the plurality of memory modules to create a redundant array of industry standard DIMMs (RAID). The system supports DIMMs having X4 and X8 configurations. The system also transitions between various states, including a redundant state and a non-redundant state, to facilitate “hot-plug” capabilities utilizing its removable memory cartridges.

Abstract: An interrupt controller may serially scan a plurality of interrupt request signals and/or receive interrupt request signals on parallel inputs. A scan latency may be associated with updating the status of serially scanned interrupt requests. Spurious interrupts may result from the scan latency. To reduce the chance of spurious interrupts, serially scanned interrupt requests may be masked for an amount of time following an end of interrupt (EOI). Write cycles to clear interrupt requests may be posted in a write buffer. The delay of such write cycles clearing the write buffer may also result in spurious interrupts. To reduce the chance of such spurious interrupts, EOI cycles may be delayed or retried until the write buffer empties.

Abstract: A FIFO queue is utilized to provide control information to the appropriate time slot in a time multiplexed serial link between an interface chip and a CODEC. The FIFO queue allows rewriting or replacement of any control registers present in the queue without requiring that a new entry be placed in the queue. A particular control register which is placed in the queue then maintains its place as the queue is emptied, even though the control register may be written one or more times while the control register entry is in the queue waiting for transmission to the CODEC. The loss of the prior command information is not a problem as the data rate of the serial link is still sufficiently high so that any minor transitory change which may have been desired would be of minimal effect in any regard and would have been inaudible to the human.

Abstract: A FIFO queue is utilized to provide control information to the appropriate time slot in a time multiplexed serial link between an interface chip and a CODEC. The FIFO queue allows rewriting or replacement of any control registers present in the queue without requiring that a new entry be placed in the queue. A particular control register which is placed in the queue then maintains its place as the queue is emptied, even though the control register may be written one or more times while the control register entry is in the queue waiting for transmission to the CODEC. The loss of the prior command information is not a problem as the data rate of the serial link is still sufficiently high so that any minor transitory change which may have been desired would be of minimal effect in any regard and would have been inaudible to the human.

Abstract: A computer system which includes a DMA controller on the local I/O unit which can be programmed by either the host processor or the local processor. Semaphore flags and lock bits are provided to allow determination of control of the local DMA controller and for passing information. Additionally, data alignment and padding circuitry is provided. The circuitry is informed of the logical data arrangement desired or utilized by the host processor or other devices and knows the data arrangement of the local processor. The circuitry properly obtains and realigns the data based on the transfer direction and data arrangement. The circuitry further properly zero pads the data when realignment is such that padding is necessary.

Abstract: A system for mapping a PCI interrupt signal to any EISA interrupt signal, in which sharing is allowed between PCI interrupts as well as between a PCI interrupt and an EISA interrupt. The actual mapping is performed during the Power On Self Test (POST) procedure, where the computer writes appropriate values into a set of MAP and MASK registers. Each MAP and MASK register corresponds to a PCI interrupt. Thus, by programming the appropriate MAP and MASK register to certain values, the corresponding PCI interrupt can be mapped to the desired EISA interrupt signal. A decode logic then produces a set of final interrupt signals based on the state of the PCI interrupt signals, the MAP and MASK registers, and the EISA interrupt signals. The final interrupt signals are provided to an interrupt controller, which responds to the assertion of the final interrupt signals by asserting an interrupt signal to the microprocessor.