Methods and apparatus for providing automatic high speed data connection in portable device
AssigneeApple Computer, Inc.
InventorsAnthony Fadell, Christoph Krah
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a portable FireWire compatible device, a direct memory access (DMA) bus switch coupled by way of a DMA bus to a central processing unit (CPU), a local hard drive (HDD), and a FireWire port, provides a direct connection between the FireWire port and the HDD bypassing a main bus and the CPU when a data transfer request is received and processed by the CPU. Otherwise, until the data transfer request is received and processed, the CPU is directly connected to the HDD. In this way, a high speed data transfer between the FireWire port and the HDD is provided only when an appropriate data transfer request is received and processed.
Claims16
A method for providing a high speed data transfer between an external data source and a local memory in a system that includes a central processing unit (CPU) always connected to a main system bus, comprising:
- preventing the CPU from accessing the local memory during the data transfer;
- providing a direct connection between the external data source and the local memory;
- and
- transferring the data by way of the direct connection.
Computer program product executable by a processor for providing a high speed data transfer between an external data source and a local memory in a system that includes a central processing unit (CPU) always connected to a main system bus, comprising:
- computer code for preventing the CPU from accessing the local memory during the data transfer;
- computer code for providing a direct connection between the external data source and the local memory;
- computer code for transferring the data by way of the direct connection;
- and
- computer readable medium for storing the computer code.
An apparatus for providing a high speed data transfer between an external data source and a local memory in a system that includes a central processing unit (CPU) always connected to a main system bus, comprising:
- a switch that prevents the CPU from accessing the local memory during the data transfer;
- and
- a direct memory access (DMA) bus connected to the CPU by way of the switch wherein the DMA bus is used for transferring the data and is not directly connected to the main system bus wherein when an appropriate data transfer request is received by the CPU, the CPU signals the switch to electrically disconnect the CPU from the local memory thereby preventing the CPU from accessing the local memory.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.