Direct processor access via an external multi-purpose interface
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorRobert A. Schaefer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for direct access to a processor via an external multi-purpose interface. The present invention provides an interface that detects the presence of a diagnostic device, such as a diagnostic PCMCIA card, or other device, and provides a direct connection to the processor. The direct connection to the processor is not available to non-diagnostic devices.
Claims17
An apparatus comprising:
- a bus;
- a processor coupled to the bus;
- and
- an external multi-purpose interface selectively coupled to the bus and to the processor having a detection device that detects a diagnostic tool coupled to the interface, wherein the interface is coupled directly to the processor in response to the diagnostic tool being coupled to the interface, and the interface being coupled to the bus otherwise.
An apparatus for providing direct processor access via an external multipurpose interface comprising:
- means for receiving a peripheral device, wherein the means for receiving include a multi-purpose interface for use with multiple peripheral devices;
- means for detecting a diagnostic tool as a peripheral device;
- and
- means for coupling the diagnostic tool directly to a processor and for coupling non-diagnostic peripheral devices to a system bus.
A method for providing direct processor access via an external multi-purpose interface comprising:
- detecting a peripheral device coupled to the external multi-purpose interface;
- determining whether the peripheral device is a diagnostic peripheral device;
- coupling the peripheral device directly to a processor, if the peripheral device is a diagnostic device;
- and
- coupling the peripheral device to a system bus, if the peripheral device is not a diagnostic device.
A diagnostic card comprising:
- a device interface compatible with an external multi-purpose interface of a computer system, wherein the external multi-purpose interface provides direct access to a processor of the computer system for the diagnostic card and a system bus connection otherwise;
- detection circuitry coupled to the device interface that detects an operating voltage of the processor;
- selection circuitry coupled to the detection circuitry to select a diagnostic interface from a plurality of diagnostic interfaces compatible with the operating voltage;
- and
- a diagnostic interface coupled to the diagnostic interfaces.
A method for determining an operating voltage of a processor in a computer system to select a diagnostic interface comprising:
- receiving the operating voltage from the computer system;
- comparing the operating voltage to multiple reference voltages;
- generating a result of the comparison;
- and
- selecting a diagnostic interface circuitry in response to the result of the comparison, wherein the selected diagnostic interface circuitry operates at a voltage compatible with the operating voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.