Method and apparatus for supporting multiple overlapping address spaces on a shared bus
OwnerPeter D. MacWilliams, Stephen S. Pawlowskiinventors
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for supporting multiple overlapping address spaces on a shared bus includes both an address comparator and an address size indicator. The address comparator compares an address, corresponding to a request to be issued on the bus, to a plurality of address spaces. The address size indicator indicates a first address space of the plurality of address spaces to which the address corresponds.
Claims22
An apparatus comprising:
- an address comparator to compare an address, corresponding to a request to be issued on a bus, to a plurality of address spaces;
- and
- an address size indicator, coupled to the address comparator, to indicate to one or more agents coupled to the bus a first address space of the plurality of address spaces to which the address corresponds.
A method for supporting multiple overlapping address spaces, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) issuing an address on a bus, the address comprising a number of bits;
- and
- b) providing an indication on the bus of the number of bits.
A computer system comprising:
- a bus;
- and
- a plurality of agents coupled to the bus, wherein each of the plurality of agents supports one or more address spaces of a plurality of address spaces, each of the plurality of agents including,
- an address comparator to compare an address, corresponding to a request to be issued on the bus, to a plurality of address spaces, and
- an interface, coupled to the address comparator, to provide an indication to the plurality of agents of a first address space of the plurality of address spaces to which the address corresponds.
An apparatus for supporting multiple overlapping address spaces, the apparatus comprising:
- means for issuing an address on a bus, the address comprising a number of bits;
- and means for providing an indication on the bus of the number of bits.
A method for supporting multiple overlapping address spaces, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) receiving an indication of an address size from a bus, the address size being the number of bits of an address on the bus;
- b) checking whether the address size is supported by an agent on the bus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.