Management of the information flow within a computer system
AssigneeMicroware Systems Corporation
InventorKimberly Kempf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computer system that utilizes a method that manages the flow of information between a memory storage area, a display screen, and a cache. The information flow within the computer system is managed by monitoring the initiation of the display screen blanking interval and then selecting a data entry in the cache which corresponds to display memory during the display screen blanking interval, and flushes the contents of that data entry to the memory area. The process repeats for each such data entry in the cache.
Claims14
A computer-controlled method for the management of the information flow between a memory storage area, a display screen, and a cache such that the information flows in coordination with the screen blanking interval of the display screen thereby ensuring high quality display with minimal interruption to external bus traffic and core processor operation, said method comprising:
- a) providing a computer system comprising:
- i) a microprocessor controller having a core processor;
- ii) a general purpose cache having a plurality of data entries, said cache in direct operable communication with said core processor of said microprocessor controller;
- iii) an external bus for handling operable communications to and from said microprocessor, said external bus in operable communication with said general purpose cache;
- iv) a screen controller in operable communication with said external bus, for processing of display screen data;
- v) a display screen for displaying information to a computer user, said display screen in operable communication with said screen controller;
- vi) a general purpose memory storage area in operable communication with said external bus, having an area for storage of said display screen data;
- and
- vii) a computer system signal for communicating information about a blanking interval of said display screen;
- b) entering data into said general purpose cache from said general purpose memory over said external bus, wherein said data includes display screen data;
- c) transferring data between said core processor and said general purpose cache such that at least one of said plurality of data entries in said general purpose cache changes;
- d) monitoring said computer signal to detect said blanking interval of said display screen;
- e) flushing said data entries of said general purpose cache to said general purpose memory area during said blanking interval;
- and
- f) transferring, for display on said display screen, said flushed screen display data from said general purpose memory to said screen controller over said external bus.
A computer-controlled method for the management of the information flow between a memory storage area, a display screen, and a cache such that the information flows in coordination with the screen blanking interval of the display screen thereby ensuring high quality display with minimal interruption to external bus traffic and core processor operation, said method comprising:
- a) providing a computer system comprising:
- i) a microprocessor controller having a core processor;
- ii) a general purpose cache having a plurality of data entries, said cache in direct operable communication with said core processor of said microprocessor controller;
- iii) an external bus for handling operable communications to and from said microprocessor, said external bus in operable communication with said general purpose cache;
- iv) a screen controller in operable communication with said external bus, for processing of display screen data;
- v) a display screen for displaying information to a computer user, said display screen in operable communication with said screen controller;
- vi) a general purpose memory storage area in operable communication with said external bus, having an area for storage of display screen data;
- and
- vii) a computer system interrupt for communicating information about a blanking interval of said displace screen;
- b) entering data into said general purpose cache from said general purpose memory over said external bus, wherein said data includes display screen data;
- c) transferring data between said core processor and said general purpose cache such that at least one of said plurality of data entries in said general purpose cache changes;
- d) monitoring said interrupt to detect said blanking interval of said display screen;
- e) selecting one of said data entries in said general purpose cache during said blanking interval wherein said data entry is valid, and dirty, and corresponds to said area for storage of said display screen data;
- f) flushing said data entries of said general purpose cache to said general purpose memory area during said blanking interval;
- g) repeating steps e) and f) for each of said data entries in said general purpose cache;
- and
- h) transferring, for display on said display screen, said flushed screen display data from said general purpose memory to said screen controller over said external bus.
A computer system for the management of the information flow between a memory storage area, a display screen, and a cache such that the information flows in coordination with the screen blanking interval of the display screen thereby ensuring high quality display with minimal interruption to external bus traffic and core processor operation, said computer system comprising:
- a) a microprocessor controller having a core processor;
- b) a general purpose cache having a plurality of data entries, said cache in direct operable communication with said core processor of said microprocessor controller;
- c) an external bus for handling operable communications to and from said microprocessor, said external bus in operable communication with said general purpose cache;
- d) a screen controller in operable communication with said external bus, for processing of display screen data;
- e) a display screen for displaying information to a computer user, said display screen in operable communication with said screen controller;
- f) a general purpose memory storage area in operable communication with said external bus, having an area for storage of display screen data;
- g) a computer system interrupt for communicating information about said display screen blanking interval;
- i) a computer program means for entering data into said general purpose cache from said general purpose memory over said external bus, wherein said data includes display screen data;
- h) a computer program means for transferring data between said core processor and said general purpose cache such that at least one of said plurality of data entries in said general purpose cache changes;
- i) a computer program means for monitoring said interrupt to detect said blanking interval of said display screen;
- j) a computer program means for selecting one of said data entries in said cache during said blanking interval wherein said data entry is valid, and dirty, and correspond to said area for storage of display screen data;
- k) a computer program means for flushing said data entries of said general purpose cache to said general purpose memory area during said blanking interval;
- and
- j) repeating steps j) and k) for each of said entries in said general purpose cache;
- and
- l) a computer program means for transferring, for display on said display screen, said flushed screen display data from said general purpose memory to said screen controller over said external bus.
A computer readable memory for controlling the management of the information flow between a memory storage area, a display screen, and a cache of a computer such that the information flows in coordination with the screen blanking interval of the display screen thereby ensuring high quality display with minimal interruption to external bus traffic and core processor operation, said memory comprising:
- a) a computer-controlled program means for controlling a microprocessor controller having a core processor;
- b) a computer-controlled program means for controlling a general purpose cache having a plurality of data entries, said cache in direct operable communication with said core processor of said microprocessor controller;
- c) an external bus for handling operable communications to and from said microprocessor, said external bus in operable communication with said general purpose cache;
- d) a screen controller in operable communication with said external bus, for processing of display screen data;
- e) a computer-controlled program means for controlling a display screen for displaying information to a computer user, said display screen in operable communication with said screen controller;
- f) a computer-controlled program means for controlling a general purpose memory storage area in operable communication with said external bus, having an area for storage of display screen data;
- g) entering data into said general purpose cache from said general purpose memory over said external bus, wherein said data includes display screen data;
- h) a computer-controlled program means for transferring data between said core processor and said general purpose cache such that at least one of said plurality of data entries in said general purpose cache changes;
- i) a computer-controlled program means for controlling a computer system interrupt for communicating information about said display screen blanking interval;
- j) a computer-controlled program means for monitoring said interrupt to detect said blanking interval of said display screen;
- k) a computer-controlled program means for selecting one of said data entries in said general purpose cache during said blanking interval wherein said data entry is valid, and dirty, and corresponds to said area for storage of display screen data;
- l) a computer program means for flushing said data entries of said general purpose cache to said general purpose memory area during said blanking interval;
- k) repeating steps k) and l) for each of said data entries in said general purpose cache;
- and
- m) a computer program means for transferring, for display on said display screen, said flushed screen display data from said general purpose memory to said screen controller over said external bus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.