Link bus for a hub based computer architecture

A method of operating a hub based processor system, the system comprising a link hub connected to a first satellite device by a first link bus, the link hub being connected to a processor via a processor bus and a memory device via a memory bus, said method comprising the steps of:

• detecting at the first satellite device an occurrence of an event;
• determining if buffers of the first satellite device must be flushed based on an identity of the event;
• flushing the buffers to memory if it is determined that the buffers of the first satellite device must be flushed;
• and
• transmitting a message identifying the occurrence and identity of the event to the link hub over the first link bus, wherein said detecting step through said transmitting step occur in accordance with a link bus protocol associated with the first link bus.

A processor system comprising:

• a processor;
• a link hub connected to said processor via a processor bus;
• a satellite device;
• and
• a link bus connected between said link hub and said satellite device, wherein said satellite device can report an occurrence of an event at said satellite device to one of said hub and said processor by identifying an event type of the event, composing a message identifying the occurrence of the event, the message comprising at least the identified event type, and transmitting the composed message over said link bus.

A processor based system comprising:

• a processor;
• a link hub connected to said processor by a first bus;
• a satellite device;
• and
• a link bus connected between said link hub and said satellite device, said link bus comprises a first bus and a first clock strobe signal used to clock information over the first bus, said link bus having a link bus protocol, wherein said satellite device reports an occurrence of an event at the satellite device in accordance with said link bus protocol by strobing said first clock strobe signal and transmitting a command packet over said first bus.

A processor based system comprising:

• a processor;
• a link hub connected to said processor by a first bus;
• a satellite device;
• and
• a link bus connected between said link hub and said satellite device such that said satellite device is capable of communicating with said processor via said link bus, said link bus comprises a status signal and having a link bus protocol, said satellite device reporting an occurrence of an event at the satellite device to said link hub by transmitting a command packet over said link bus, and
• wherein said satellite device transmits said status signal in accordance with said link bus protocol to become a master of said link bus during transmissions to said link hub and said link hub transmits said status signal in accordance with said link bus protocol to become a master of said link bus during transmissions to said satellite device.