Distributing data to multiple destinations within an asynchronous circuit
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorsIvan E. Sutherland, Josephus C. Ebergen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that asynchronously distributes data to a plurality of destinations within a digital circuit. Upon receiving a data item to be distributed, the system monitors asynchronous control signals associated with the destinations, wherein a given asynchronous control signal indicates that a given destination is free to receive the data item. For each destination that is free to receive the data item, the system forwards the data item to the destination asynchronously without waiting for a system clock signal, and also changes an asynchronous control signal associated with the destination to indicate that the destination is not free to receive a subsequent data item.
Claims24
A method for asynchronously distributing data to a plurality of destinations within a digital circuit, comprising:
- receiving a data item to be distributed to at least one destination in the plurality of destinations;
- monitoring asynchronous control signals associated with the plurality of destinations, wherein a given asynchronous control signal indicates that a given destination is free to receive the data item;
- and
- for each destination that is free to receive the data item,
- forwarding the data item to the destination asynchronously without waiting for a system clock signal, and
- changing an asynchronous control signal associated with the destination to indicate that the destination is not free to receive a subsequent data item.
An apparatus for asynchronously distributing data to a plurality of destinations within a digital circuit, comprising:
- an input that is configured to receive a data item to be distributed to at least one destination in the plurality of destinations;
- a plurality of asynchronous control signals associated with the plurality of destinations, wherein a given asynchronous control signal indicates that a given destination is free to receive the data item;
- and
- an asynchronous data transfer circuit that is configured to monitor the plurality of asynchronous control signals;
- wherein for each destination that is free to receive the data item, the asynchronous data transfer circuit is configured to,
- forward the data item to the destination asynchronously without waiting for a system clock signal, and to
- change an asynchronous control signal associated with the destination to indicate that the destination is not free to receive a subsequent data item.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.