Multiple processor cards accessing common peripherals via transparent and non-transparent bridges
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorRobert D. Wachel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a Compact PCI system, a method and apparatus for bridging multiple PCI segments in a chassis utilizing backplane connections, instead of a front side component slot. Embodiments of the present invention may be used, with either a transparent or non-transparent bridging system, between multiple PCI segments, to increase the number of shared peripherals in a single Compact PCI chassis.
Claims20
In a system including a plurality of PCI segments, with each said PCI segment comprising one or more PCI cards mounted in slots on a PCI chassis, a bridge for electrically coupling PCI segments, said bridge comprising:
- a hoard;
- and
- a plurality of connectors mounted on said board for electrically connecting said board to a PCI card of a first PCI segment and a PCI card of a second PCI segment on a backplane of the PCI chassis.
In a system including at least three PCI segments, with each PCI segment comprising one or more PCI cards mounted in slots on a PCI chassis, a bridge for connecting to PCI segments, said bridge comprising:
- a first board;
- a plurality of first board connectors mounted on said first board for electrically connecting said first board to a first and a second PCI segment on the backplane of the PCI chassis;
- a second board;
- a plurality of second board connectors mounted on said second board for electrically connecting said second board to said second and a third PCI segment on the backplane of the PCI chassis.
A method of bridging a plurality of PCI segments mounted on a PCI chassis without occupying a front side slot of said PCI chassis, comprising:
- connecting a first PCI segment card and a second PCI segment card with a first PCI bridge hoard;
- and
- locating said PCI bridge board along a backplane.
A method of bridging PCI segments on a PCI chassis, comprising:
- connecting a pair of adjacent PCI cards of adjacent PCI segments with a PCI bridge board across the Groups of P1 and P2 pins on the backplane of a pair of adjacent PCI slots;
- and
- orienting said PCI bridge board substantially parallel to the PCI chassis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.