Ordering rule controlled command storage
AssigneeAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.
InventorsFrank Barth, Thomas Kunjan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A command storage technique that fulfils ordering rules is provided. This technique may be used in HyperTransport compliant southbridge devices. A command transmit engine comprises a command storage unit that is adapted to receive incoming commands of different command types and store the command in the order in which the commands were received. The command transmit engine further comprises an ordering rule controller that is connected to the command storage unit to select stored commands to be transmitted. The ordering rule controller is adapted to perform the selection according to predefined command ordering rules. The command ordering rules are command type dependent.
Claims61
A southbridge device having a command transmit engine adapted to transmit commands of different command types, said command transmit engine comprising:
- a command storage unit adapted to receive incoming commands of different command types and store said commands in the order in which the commands were received;
- and
- an ordering rule controller connected to said command storage unit to select stored commands to be transmitted, said ordering rule controller being adapted to perform the selection according to predefined command ordering rules, said command ordering rules being command type dependent.
An integrated circuit chip comprising:
- a command storage circuit adapted to receive incoming commands of different command types and store said commands in the order in which the commands were received;
- and
- an ordering rule control circuit connected to said command storage circuit to select stored commands to be output, said ordering rule control circuit being adapted to perform the selection according to predefined command ordering rules, said command ordering rules being command type dependent.
A computer system comprising:
- at least one peripheral component;
- and
- a southbridge having a command transmit engine adapted to transmit commands of different command types, said command transmit engine comprising:
- a command storage unit adapted to receive incoming commands of different command types from at least one control unit of said at least one peripheral component, said command storage unit storing said commands in the order in which the commands were received;
- and
- an ordering rule controller connected to said command storage unit to select stored commands to be transmitted, said ordering rule controller being adapted to perform the selection according to predefined command ordering rules, said command ordering rules being command type dependent.
A method of operating a southbridge device, the method comprising:
- receiving commands of different command types;
- storing said commands in the order in which the commands were received;
- selecting stored commands to be transmitted, by applying predefined command ordering rules, said command ordering rules being command type dependent;
- and
- transmitting the selected commands.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.