Addressing Variable-length Words Or Parts Of Words (epo) Patents (Class 711/E12.015)
  • Patent number: 8732415
    Abstract: In various embodiments, dedicated mask pins are eliminated by sending a data mask on address lines of the interface. A memory controller receives a request for a memory write operation from a memory client and determines the granularity of the write data from a write data mask sent by the client. Granularity, as used herein, indicates a quantity of write data to which each bit of the received write data mask applies. In an embodiment, the memory controller generates a particular write command and a particular write data mask based on the granularity of the write data. The write command generated is typically the most efficient of several write commands available, but embodiments are not so limited. The write command is transmitted on command lines of the interface, and the write data mask is transmitted on address lines of the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Xiaoling Xu, Warren Kruger
  • Patent number: 8700844
    Abstract: A control method for a memory is provided. The memory includes a plurality of storage units, each storing a plurality of bits. In a read mode, a read command is provided to the memory. The value of a most significant bit (MSB) of each storage unit is obtained and recorded. The value of the most significant bits is output. The value of a neighboring bit of each storage unit is obtained and recorded. The neighboring bit neighbors the most significant bit. The value of the neighboring bits is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Via Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ming-Xing Gao
  • Patent number: 8694715
    Abstract: A method for programming a plurality of data sequences into a corresponding plurality of flash memory functional units using a programming process having at least one selectable programming duration-controlling parameter controlling the duration of the programming process for a given data sequence, the method comprising providing at least one indication of at least one varying situational characteristic and determining a value for said at least one selectable programming duration-controlling parameter controlling the duration of the programming process for a given data sequence, for each flash memory functional unit, depending at least partly on said indication of said varying characteristic; and, for each individual flash memory functional unit from among said plurality of flash memory functional units, programming a sequence of bits into said individual flash memory functional unit using a programming process having at least one selectable parameter, said at least one selectable parameter being set at said
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Densbits Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Hanan Weingarten, Erez Sabbag, Michael Katz
  • Patent number: 8499115
    Abstract: A control method for a memory is provided. The memory includes a plurality of storage units, each storing a plurality of bits. In a read mode, a read command is provided to the memory. The value of a most significant bit (MSB) of each storage unit is obtained and recorded. The value of the most significant bits is output. The value of a neighboring bit of each storage unit is obtained and recorded. The neighboring bit neighbors the most significant bit. The value of the neighboring bits is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Via Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ming-Xing Gao
  • Patent number: 8458414
    Abstract: A memory accessing method including the following steps is provided. Firstly, two instructions are fetched. Next, the two instructions are respectively decoded to obtain two operation fields and two address fields. The two operation fields indicate the type of operation in accessing the memory. One of the address fields includes a first upper address corresponding to the first memory block and a first lower address corresponding to a first memory unit of the first memory block. The other one of the two address fields includes a second upper address corresponding to the second memory block and a second lower address corresponding to a second memory unit of the second memory block. Then, whether two instructions are performing the same type of operation on the same memory block is determined. If yes, the type of operation indicated by the two operation fields is performed on the corresponding memory block parallelly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Sheng-Yuan Jan, Yen-Ju Lu
  • Patent number: 8412912
    Abstract: In various embodiments, dedicated mask pins are eliminated by sending a data mask on address lines of the interface. A memory controller receives a request for a memory write operation from a memory client and determines the granularity of the write data from a write data mask sent by the client. Granularity, as used herein, indicates a quantity of write data to which each bit of the received write data mask applies. In an embodiment, the memory controller generates a particular write command and a particular write data mask based on the granularity of the write data. The write command generated is typically the most efficient of several write commands available, but embodiments are not so limited. The write command is transmitted on command lines of the interface, and the write data mask is transmitted on address lines of the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Xiaoling Xu, Warren F. Kruger
  • Patent number: 8359433
    Abstract: A method and system to facilitate full throughput operation of cache memory line split accesses in a device. By facilitating full throughput operation of cache memory line split accesses in the device, the device minimizes the performance and throughput loss associated with the handling of non-aligned cache memory accesses that cross two or more cache memory lines and/or page memory boundaries in one embodiment of the invention. When the device receives a non-aligned cache memory access request, the merge logic combines or merges the incoming data of a particular cache memory line from a data cache memory with the stored data of the preceding cache memory line of the particular cache memory line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Gad S. Sheaffer
  • Patent number: 8356145
    Abstract: A multi-stage multiplexing operation that includes combined selection and data alignment or data replication is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes performing a first stage of a multi-stage multiplexing operation. During the first stage, a first data source is selected from a first plurality of data sources. At least one of a first data alignment operation and a first data replication operation is also performed on first data from the selected first data source during the first stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ajay A. Ingle, Jen Tsung Lin, Rahul R. Toley
  • Patent number: 8332575
    Abstract: A data management system includes a data processor configured to provide a file system module configured to store first data in a flash memory in block units and a filter layer module configured to receive second data from the file system module and to store the second data in a phase-change random access memory (PRAM) in sub-block units. The filter layer module may be configured to identify difference data in the second data received from the file system module by comparing the received second data and third data stored in the PRAM, and to write the identified difference data to the PRAM. The second data may include file metadata and the first data may include data other than file metadata. The sub-block units may be byte units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Kyu Kim, Kyoung-Il Bang, Hyung-Gyu Lee
  • Patent number: 8275972
    Abstract: In various embodiments, dedicated mask pins are eliminated by sending a data mask on address lines of the interface. A memory controller receives a request for a memory write operation from a memory client and determines the granularity of the write data from a write data mask sent by the client. Granularity, as used herein, indicates a quantity of write data to which each bit of the received write data mask applies. In an embodiment, the memory controller generates a particular write command and a particular write data mask based on the granularity of the write data. The write command generated is typically the most efficient of several write commands available, but embodiments are not so limited. The write command is transmitted on command lines of the interface, and the write data mask is transmitted on address lines of the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: ATI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoling Xu, Warren F. Kruger
  • Patent number: 8117404
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a processor comprises a circuit coupled to receive an indication of a memory operation to be executed in the processor. The circuit is configured to predict whether or not the memory operation is misaligned. A number of accesses performed by the processor to execute the memory operation is dependent on whether or not the circuit predicts the memory operation as misaligned. In another embodiment, a misalignment predictor is coupled to receive an indication of a memory operation, and comprises a memory and a control circuit coupled to the memory. The memory is configured to store a plurality of indications of memory operations previously detected as misaligned during execution in a processor. The control circuit is configured to predict whether or not a memory operation is misaligned responsive to a comparison of the received indication and the plurality of indications stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tse-Yu Yeh, Po-Yung Chang, Eric Hao
  • Publication number: 20110179242
    Abstract: A multi-stage multiplexing operation that includes combined selection and data alignment or data replication is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes performing a first stage of a multi-stage multiplexing operation. During the first stage, a first data source is selected from a first plurality of data sources. At least one of a first data alignment operation and a first data replication operation is also performed on first data from the selected first data source during the first stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ajay Anant Ingle, Jentsung Lin, Rahul R. Toley
  • Patent number: 7882316
    Abstract: A network component useful in tracking write activity by writing logs containing write address information is described. The tracking component may be used in networked systems employing data mirrors to record data block addresses written to a primary storage volume during the time a data mirror is unavailable. The tracking component can be available to any network originating node, and may therefore track write activity on multiple volumes. At the time a data mirror is reconstructed, the log written may be used to construct a list of block addresses pointing to locations on a primary storage volume wherein data differs from a secondary storage volume member of the mirror. The locations may be copied from the primary to secondary storage volume to reconstruct the data mirror. The performance impact of the tracking component is minimal and a shared network resource is offered that increases fault tolerance in the event of backup device failures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Wayne Boyd, Kenneth Fairclough Day, III, Philip Matthew Doatmas, John Jay Wolfgang
  • Publication number: 20090248970
    Abstract: A technique to increase transfer rate of command and address signals via a given number of command and address pins in each of one or more integrated circuit memory devices during a clock cycle of a clock signal. In one example embodiment, the command and address signals are sent on both rising and falling edges of a clock cycle of a clock signal to increase the transfer rate and essentially reduce the number of required command and address pins in each integrated circuit memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Joo S. Choi, Troy A. Manning, Brent Keeth
  • Publication number: 20090100219
    Abstract: A method and apparatus adapted to perform content addressable memory (CAM) lookup by performing a lookup in parallel using multiple classification rules in the CAM with the same key, wherein the CAM lookup is used to resolve IPv4 and IPv6 addresses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventor: Anurag Bhargava
  • Publication number: 20090089484
    Abstract: A data protection method suitable for a plurality of physical blocks mapped to a logical block in a non-volatile memory is provided. The data protection method includes recording data update information in each of the physical blocks for identifying an update relationship of the physical blocks and re-establishing the update relationship of the physical blocks according to the data update information. The data update information is composed of a plurality of words having a circular relationship, and the number of these words is greater than the number of the physical blocks. The data update information is sequentially recorded in each of the physical blocks according to the update relationship and the circular relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: PHISON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Chien-Hua Chu
  • Publication number: 20090049274
    Abstract: Circuitry and a method for indicating a multiple-type memory is disclosed. The multiple-type memory includes memory blocks in communication with control logic blocks. The memory blocks and the control logic blocks are configured to emulate a plurality of memory types. The memory blocks can be configured into a plurality of vertically stacked memory planes. The vertically stacked memory planes may be used to increase data storage density and/or the number of memory types that can be emulated by the multiple-type memory. Each memory plane can emulate one or more memory types. The control logic blocks can be formed in a substrate (e.g., a silicon substrate including CMOS circuitry) and the memory blocks or the plurality of memory planes can be positioned over the substrate and in communication with the control logic blocks. The multiple-type memory may be non-volatile so that stored data is retained in the absence of power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: UNITY SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert Norman
  • Publication number: 20090006776
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus trains a memory link using a signal alignment unit. The signal alignment unit aligns a read data strobe signal that is transmitted on the link with the center of a read data eye transmitted on the link. Next, the signal alignment unit aligns a receive enable signal that is transmitted on the link with the absolute time that data returns the data lines of the link a column address strobe signal is sent to the memory coupled to the link. Next, the signal alignment unit aligns a write data strobe signal transmitted on the link with the link's clock signal. Finally, the signal alignment unit aligns the center of the write data eye transmitted on the link with the write data strobe transmitted on the link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Bryan L. Spry, Christopher P. Mozak, Stanley S. Kulick
  • Publication number: 20080320268
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an interconnect for an integrated circuit communicates transactions between one or more initiator Intellectual Property (IP) cores and multiple target IP cores coupled to the interconnect. Two or more memory channels make up a first aggregate target of the target IP cores. The two or more memory channels populate an address space assigned to the first aggregate target and appear as a single target to the initiator IP cores. The interconnect implements chopping logic to chop individual two-dimensional (2D) transactions that cross the memory channel address boundaries from a first memory channel to a second memory channel within the first aggregate target into two or more 2D transactions with a height value greater than one, as well as stride and width dimensions, which are chopped to fit within memory channel address boundaries of the first aggregate target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Sonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Drew E. Wingard, Chien-Chun Chou, Ian Andrew Swarbrick, Stephen W. Hamilton, Vida Vakilotojar
  • Publication number: 20080307179
    Abstract: A network component useful in tracking write activity by writing logs containing write address information is described. The tracking component may be used in networked systems employing data mirrors to record data block addresses written to a primary storage volume during the time a data mirror is unavailable. The tracking component can be available to any network originating node, and may therefore track write activity on multiple volumes. At the time a data mirror is reconstructed, the log written may be used to construct a list of block addresses pointing to locations on a primary storage volume wherein data differs from a secondary storage volume member of the mirror. The locations may be copied from the primary to secondary storage volume to reconstruct the data mirror. The performance impact of the tracking component is minimal and a shared network resource is offered that increases fault tolerance in the event of backup device failures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Kenneth Wayne Boyd, Kenneth Fairclough Day, III, Philip Matthew Doatmas, John Jay Wolfgang
  • Publication number: 20080256320
    Abstract: In a method for storing messages in a communications module, the messages to be stored contain first data having a first data volume and second data having a second data volume, and it is possible for the second data volume to be different per message. A message memory contains a header segment, in which the first data of the message are stored in a respective header area per message, and the message memory also contains a data segment, in which the second data of the message are stored in a respective data area per message The message memory is configured such that a division between the header segment and the data segment is variable, depending on the number of messages and the second data volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Florian Hartwich, Christian Horst, Franz Bailer
  • Publication number: 20080177929
    Abstract: A system for implementing a memory subsystem command interface, the system including a cascaded interconnect system including one or more memory modules, a memory controller and a memory bus. The memory controller generates a data frame that includes a plurality of commands. The memory controller and the memory module are interconnected by a packetized multi-transfer interface via the memory bus and the frame is transmitted to the memory modules via the memory bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin C. Gower, Warren E. Maule
  • Publication number: 20080155210
    Abstract: A system and method for accelerated handling of masked store operations in a processor or processor-based system/chip are described. A set of instructions that support a store operation under a per-byte predicate mask is provided. The invention accelerates the handling of small transfers at arbitrary alignments, such as those used by xDSL modems to deal with ATM cells or Reed Solomon codewords.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Taunton
  • Publication number: 20080140988
    Abstract: A method for reducing memory resource utilization is disclosed, applied to simplify address space of a table. Values stored in address fields of an original table are analyzed to determine whether logical relationship is detected between the values. If the logical relationship is detected, the values stored in the original table are classified to multiple base values and corresponding reduced values to generate a transformation table. Values with the same logical relationship for base values and the corresponding reduced values are stored in a new and equivalent address field of a reduction table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Chien-Ju Li, Oscal Tzyh Chiang Chen, Guo-Zua Wu
  • Publication number: 20080104364
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vector indexed memory unit and method of operation. In one embodiment a plurality of values are stored in segments of a vector index register. Individual ones of the values are provided to an associated operator (e.g., adder or bit replacement). Individual ones of the operators operates on its associated vector index value and a base value to generate a memory address. These memory addresses are then concurrently accessed in one or more memory units. If the data in the memory units are organized as data tables, the apparatus allows for multiple concurrent table lookups. In an alternate embodiment, in addition to the above described operators generating multiple memory addresses, an adder is provided to add the base value to the value represented by the concatenation of the bits in the vector index register to generate a single memory address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Rainer Buchty, Nevin Heintze, Dino Oliva
  • Publication number: 20080086614
    Abstract: A system for enforcing a storage allocation usage right(s) for an application may include a controllable storage and a storage manager to control the access of the application to the storage according to an associated storage allocation usage right. A SIM card for enforcing a storage allocation usage right for an application may include an application register to store an access rule of the storage allocation usage right(s) and an APREC module to identify the application and thereby an access rule to enable controlling of the access of the application to storage according to the storage allocation usage right. A high-capacity SIM card for enforcing a storage allocation usage right for an application may include a storage; a storage manager to control the access of an application to the storage according to an associated access rule of the storage allocation usage right; and an APREC module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: SANDISK IL LTD.
    Inventors: Javier Canis, Eitan Mardiks
  • Publication number: 20070294466
    Abstract: A system for implementing a memory subsystem command interface, the system including a cascaded interconnect system including one or more memory modules, a memory controller and a memory bus. The memory controller generates a data frame that includes a plurality of commands. The memory controller and the memory module are interconnected by a packetized multi-transfer interface via the memory bus and the frame is transmitted to the memory modules via the memory bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Gower, Warren Maule