Abstract: A method for error handling of corrupted repeating primitives during frame reception is disclosed. The method comprises identifying a portion of a received frame including a repeating primitive sequence, determining whether data in the repeating primitive sequence has one or more errors, and indicating a successful reception of the received frame with the one or more errors in the repeating primitive sequence if the number of errors is less than a determined threshold. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method may include, in response, at least in part, to one or more received frames, generating an interrupt and preventing transmission of one or more other frames. The one or more received frames may indicate, at least in part, an error condition or a commencement of a data transfer. The method of this embodiment also may include, in response, at least in part, to the interrupt, executing one or more instructions. The one or more instructions, when executed, may optionally result in deleting the one or more other frames, and if the one or more received frames indicate, at least in part, the error condition, commencing recovery from the error condition. If the one or more received frames indicate, at least in part, the commencement of the data transfer, the method of the embodiment may include storing data associated with the data transfer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the input/output performance of a computer system under the control of a multi-tasking, multi-threaded operating system. In particular, the invention provides an apparatus and method to chain contiguous DMA scatter gather sub blocks of a PRD table for channel 0 with contiguous DMA scatter gather sub blocks of a PRD table for channel 1, using a single data manager, while maintaining maximum media bandwidth. DMA block transfers are scheduled based on the availability of data from the I/O device's buffer memory, thus minimizing both media or network idle time as well as minimizing I/O bus idle time. Near maximum aggregate bandwidth of multiple I/O buses and their associated devices is obtained. The apparatus and method thus provides significant performance advantages over prior techniques having two I/O channel systems implemented with a single data manager.

Abstract: A method an corresponding apparatus for improving the input/output performance of a computer system under the control of a multi-tasking, multi-threaded operating system. In particular, the invention provides an apparatus and method to interleave contiguous DMA scatter/gather sub blocks of a PRD table corresponding to a first I/O channel with contiguous DMA scatter/gather sub blocks of a PRD table corresponding to a second I/O channel, using a single data manager, while maintaining maximum media bandwidth. DMA block transfers are scheduled by the single data manager based on the availability of data from the I/O devices' buffer memories, thus minimizing both media or network idle time as well as minimizing I/O bus idle time. Near maximum aggregate bandwidth of multiple I/O buses and their associated devices is obtained. The apparatus and method thus provides significant performance advantages over prior techniques having two I/O channel systems implemented with a single data manager.

Abstract: A redundant array computer system having a high-speed CPU bus and lower-speed I/O buses, in which parity blocks are generated for a plurality of data blocks from multiple CPU bus logical channels in a randomly-interleaved manner to provide enhanced I/O transfer rates. For example, such a system may have two channels for processing two sets of data. The parity generation technique employs switching means to switch channels on the CPU bus between the first set and the second set, generating parity information that can be transferred independently over two I/O buses. The parity generation technique achieves an effective I/O bus transfer rate more closely matched to the speed of the CPU bus. The invention shares a single XOR gate and related support circuitry between multiple logical channels by providing a configurable electronic memory, thus achieving economies in implementation. For certain system applications, it may be desirable to utilize the RAM as a large, unified FIFO.

Abstract: A redundant array computer system having a high-speed CPU bus and lower-speed I/O buses, in which parity blocks are generated for a plurality of data blocks from multiple CPU bus logical channels in a randomly-interleaved manner to provide enhanced I/O transfer rates. For example, such a system may have two channels for processing two sets of data. The parity generation technique employs switching means to switch channels on the CPU bus between the first set and the second set, generating parity information that can be transferred independently over two I/O buses. The parity generation technique achieves an effective I/O bus transfer rate more closely matched to the speed of the CPU bus. The invention shares a single XOR gate and related support circuitry between multiple logical channels by providing a configurable electronic memory, thus achieving economies in implementation. For certain system applications, it may be desirable to utilize the RAM as a large, unified FIFO.

Abstract: A redundant array computer system having a high-speed CPU bus and lower-speed I/O buses, in which parity blocks are generated for a plurality of data blocks from multiple CPU bus logical channels in a randomly-interleaved manner to provide enhanced I/O transfer rates. For example, such a system may have two channels for processing two sets of data. The parity generation technique employs a switching circuit to switch channels on the CPU bus between the first set and the second set, generating parity information that can be transferred independently over two I/O buses. The parity generation technique achieves an effective I/O bus transfer rate more closely matched to the speed of the CPU bus. The invention shares a single XOR gate and related support circuitry between multiple logical channels by providing a configurable electronic memory, thus achieving economies in implementation. For certain system applications, it may be desirable to utilize the RAM as a large, unified FIFO.