US 6,477,611 B1 · Field-configurable, adaptable and programmable input/output bus interface and method

Abstract

A self-configurable, adaptable and programmable (hereinafter “CAP”) I/O bus (15) is provided in a digital computer (11) to establish compatibility between the input/output bus of computer (11) and an incompatible input/output bus of an external module (12). Computer (11) includes a field programmable gate array (FPGA) (31) for translating the bus configuration used by module (12) to that employed by computer (11). Two preselected CAP I/O Bus conductors (17, 18) pass an identification number from the module (12) to computer (11) that points to the location of the information necessary to compatibly configure FPGA (31). This information, which includes a bus logic FPGA image file and a device driver, and may include a protocol driver, may be found in one of several locations, including onboard computer (11) in memory, onboard module (12), or at an external site such as a server (28) accessible via the Internet. Computer (11) retrieves the configuration information from the location corresponding to the identification number, configures FPGA (31) and establishes communication between the two input/output buses.

Claims19

Dependent claims

Apparatus for establishing compatibility between at least two input/output buses, comprising:

a first device having a first input/output bus with an adaptable, first configuration;
a second device having a second input/output bus incompatible with said first input/output bus and with a second configuration and a memory including the location of configuration information characterizing said second configuration, said second device communicating said location of configuration information to said first device;
and,
said first device further including a processor receiving said location of configuration information from said second device, retrieving said configuration information from said location of configuration information, and reconfiguring said first input/output bus compatable with said second input/output bus.

1 more element

A method for establishing compatibility between at least two input/output buses including a first device having a first input/output bus with an adaptable, first configuration, and a second device having a second input/output bus incompatible with said first input/output bus and with a second configuration, comprising the steps of:

interconnecting said first device and said second device;
communicating an identification number representative of the location of configuration information characterizing the second configuration from said second device to said first device;
retrieving said configuration information from the location corresponding to said identification number;
reconfiguring said first input/output bus compatible with said second input/output bus;
and,
establishing communication between said first input/output bus and said second input/output bus.

3 more elements

A method for establishing compatibility between at least two input/output buses including a first device having a input/output bus with an adaptable, first configuration, said first device including a field programmable gate array, and a second device having a second input/output bus with a second configuration, second configuration information characterizing said second configuration including a field programmable gate array image file, and at least one of a device driver and a protocol driver, comprising the steps of:

selecting an identification number representative of the location of said configuration information characterizing said second configuration, and storing said identification number in said second device;
storing said field programmable gate array image file, and any said device driver and said protocol driver corresponding to said configuration of said second device in said second device;
interconnecting said first device and said second device;
communicating said identification number representative of the location of configuration information characterizing said second configuration from said second device to said first device;
retrieving said configuration information from the location corresponding to said identification number from one of a plurality of locations including said first device, said second device and an external source;
communicating said field programmable gate array image file, and any said device driver and said protocol driver from said second device to said first device;
reconfiguring said first input/output bus compatible with said second input/output bus;
and,
establishing communication between said first input/output bus and said second input/output bus.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Field-configurable, adaptable and programmable input/output bus interface and method

Life of this patent

Field-configurable, adaptable and programmable input/output bus interface and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19