Interface controller that controls the rate at which data is transfer based on the destination address of the data
AssigneeFujitsu Limited
InventorYasushi Sakai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An interface controller adaptively changes the data transfer rate of data being transferred between two or more devices depending on whether one of the devices is powered by an internal power supply and on the destination of the data. The controller includes a clock generator that generates a clock signal, a transfer unit that performs one of a first data transfer and a second data transfer at a transfer rate based on the clock signal, and a control circuit for adaptively changing the frequency of the clock signal depending on whether the first or second data transfer is to be performed.
Claims23
An interface controller performing a first data transfer with a first device, comprising:
- a first port for connecting to a second device to perform a second data transfer;
- a second port for connecting to a third device to perform a the second data transfer;
- a clock generating circuit for generating a clock signal having a frequency;
- a transfer unit, connected to the clock generating circuit, for performing one of the first data transfer and the second data transfer;
- and
- a clock control unit, connected to the clock generating circuit, for performing the second data transfer when data is addressed to one of the second device and the third device.
An interface controller for transferring data between at least two devices connected to a bus, the controller comprising:
- an I/O port connected to the bus for sending and receiving data;
- an interface circuit, connected to the I/O port, for passing data to and from the I/O port at one of the first data transfer rate, which is determined by a first clock signal, and a second data transfer rate, which is determined by a second clock signal;
- an internal port, connected to the interface circuit, being set to transfer data at the first data transfer rate;
- a clock signal generator, connected to the interface circuit, for generating the first clock signal and the second clock signal;
- and
- a control circuit, connected to the clock signal generator, for generating a first control signal used to generate the first clock signal when data is addressed to the interface controller and generating a second control signal used to generate the second clock signal when data is addressed to one of the at least two devices.
A method for transferring data between a self device performing a first data transfer and a plurality of other devices performing a second data transfer, comprising the steps of:
- determining whether the data to be transferred is addressed to the self device or to one of the other devices;
- performing the first data transfer between the self device and one of the other devices at a first transfer rate when the data is addressed to the self device;
- and
- performing the second data transfer between a first other device and a second other device via the self device at a second transfer rate that is faster than the first transfer rate when the data is addressed to one of the other devices.
A method for transferring data between a self device and a plurality of other devices, wherein the self device is powered by an internal power supply, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining whether the data to be transferred is addressed to the self device or to one of the other devices;
- performing a first data transfer between the self device and one of the other devices at a first transfer rate when the data is addressed to the self device;
- and
- performing a second data transfer between a first other device and a second other device via the self device at a second transfer rate that is faster than the first transfer rate when the data is addressed to one of the other devices.
A method for transferring data between a self device and at least two other devices, wherein the self device is powered by an internal power supply and the at least two devices are powered by an external power supply, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining whether the data to be transferred is addressed to the self device or to one of the at least two devices;
- performing the first data transfer between the self device and one of the at least two other devices at a first transfer rate when the data is addressed to the self device;
- and
- performing a second data transfer between a first other device and a second other device via the self device at a second transfer rate when the data is addressed to one of the at least two other devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.