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US 6,674,751 B1Granted
Serialized bus communication and control architecture
AssigneeFujitsu Network Communications, Inc.
InventorRobert J. Dittmar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A serial bus communication system for communication across the backplane of a node includes a control unit having a serial bus controller. A plurality of service units each include a serial bus terminator. A serial bus includes a discrete serial channel for each service unit. The serial channel connects the serial bus terminator to the serial bus controller. The serial bus controller is operable to direct a message for a service unit on the serial bus to only the serial channel of the service unit.
Claims23
A serial bus communication system for communicating across a backplane of a node, comprising:
- a control unit including a serial bus controller;
- a plurality of service units each including a serial bus terminator;
- a serial bus including a discrete serial channel for each service unit, the serial channel connecting the serial bus terminator to the serial bus controller;
- the serial bus controller operable to direct a message for a service unit on the serial bus to only the serial channel of the service unit;
- and
- the serial bus controller operable to communicate messages to the serial unit without unit addressing.
3 more elements
A serial bus communication system for communicating across a backplane of a node, comprising:
- a control unit including a serial bus controller;
- a plurality of service units each including a serial bus terminator;
- a serial bus including a discrete serial channel for each service unit, the serial channel connecting the serial bus terminator to the serial bus controller;
- the serial bus controller operable to direct a message for a service unit on the serial bus to only the serial channel of the service unit;
- a processor operable to generate linked-lists to perform multiple block data transfer operations and to generate direct requests to perform sole data transfer operations;
- a linked-list output system operable to perform block data transfer operations by processing linked-lists;
- a processor output system operable to perform sole data transfer operations by processing direct requests;
- and
- an arbitrator operable to allow both the linked-list and direct request processing systems to simultaneously perform data transfer operations so long as disparate service units are being accessed.
6 more elements
A serial bus communication system for communicating across a backplane of a node, comprising:
- a control unit including a serial bus controller;
- a plurality of service units each including a serial bus terminator;
- a serial bus including a discrete serial channel for each service unit, the serial channel connecting the serial bus terminator to the serial bus controller;
- the serial bus controller operable to direct a message for a service unit on the serial bus to only the serial channel of the service unit;
- a processor operable to generate low priority linked-lists for performing low priority data transfer operations and to generate high priority linked-lists for performing high priority data transfer operations;
- the linked-list processing system further comprising:
- a set of low priority registers operable to store processing information for low priority linked-lists;
- a set of high priority registers operable to store processing information for high priority linked-lists;
- a context controller operable to direct a linked-list controller to the set of high priority registers in response to a high priority linked-list identified by the set of high priority registers and to the set of low priority registers in response to a low priority linked-list identified by the low priority registers and in the absence of a high priority linked-list;
- and
- the linked-list controller operable to process a linked-list identified by the register indicated by the context controller.
8 more elements
A method for communicating messages between a control unit and a plurality of service units in a node, comprising:
- providing a serial bus between the control unit and the service units, the serial bus including a discrete serial channel connecting each service unit to the control unit;
- generating at the control unit a request for a data transfer operation at a destination service unit;
- transmitting the message on the serial bus to only the serial channel of the destination service unit;
- and
- transmitting the message in a frame absent unit addressing.
2 more elements
A method for communicating messages between a control unit and a plurality of service units in a node, comprising:
- providing a serial bus between the control unit and the service units, the serial bus including a discrete serial channel connecting each service unit to the control unit;
- generating at the control unit a request for a data transfer operation at a destination service unit;
- transmitting the message on the serial bus to only the serial channel of the destination service unit;
- generating a linked-list request for performing a series of specified data transfer operations at a first destination service unit;
- generating a direct access request for performing a specified data transfer operation at a second destination service unit;
- determining whether the first and second destination service units are disparate service units;
- and
- transmitting the linked-list and direct access request in response to determining the first and second destination service units comprise disparate service units.
5 more elements
A method for communicating messages between a control unit and a plurality of service units in a node, comprising:
- providing a serial bus between the control unit and the service units, the serial bus including a discrete serial channel connecting each service unit to the control unit;
- generating at the control unit a request for a data transfer operation at a destination service unit;
- transmitting the message on the serial bus to only the serial channel of the destination service unit;
- wherein the request comprises a low priority linked-list request for performing a series of data transfer operations at the destination service unit, further comprising:
- generating a high priority linked-list request for performing a series of data transfer operations at a second service unit;
- interrupting transmission of the low priority linked-list request on the serial bus;
- transmitting the high priority linked-list request on the serial bus on only the serial channel of the second destination service unit;
- and
- resume transmitting the low priority linked-list request on only the serial channel of the destination service unit upon completion of the high priority linked-list request.
6 more elements
A system for communicating between units across a backplane in a node, comprising:
- a control unit having an address counter;
- a plurality of service units each having a local address counter;
- a bus connecting the service units to the controller unit;
- the control unit operable to transmit a request for a data transfer operation at a service unit to the service unit without a memory address location for the data transfer operation;
- and
- the service unit operable to shift a previous address stored in the local address counter to a next address and to perform the data transfer operation at the next address.
3 more elements
A method for transferring data between memory locations, comprising:
- transmitting from a control unit to a service unit a first data transfer operation of a series of data transfer operations and initial memory address at the service unit at which to perform the first data transfer operation;
- transmitting from the control unit to the service unit subsequent data transfer operations of the series of data transfer operations without memory addresses at the service unit at which to perform the subsequent data transfer operations;
- at the service unit, in response to receiving a memory address with a data transfer operation, loading the memory address into a local address counter at the service unit;
- in response to receiving a data transfer operation without a memory address, shifting the address in the local address counter to a next address;
- and
- performing each data transfer operation at the memory address stored in the local address counter.
3 more elements
A serial bus communication system for communicating across a backplane of a node, comprising:
- a control unit including a serial bus controller;
- a plurality of service units each including a serial bus terminator;
- a serial bus including a discrete serial channel for each service unit, the serial channel connecting the serial bus terminator to the serial bus controller;
- the serial bus terminator operable to transmit to the serial bus controller on an upstream link of its serial channel an interrupt signal identifying an interrupt in response to receiving the interrupt;
- and
- the serial bus controller including a discrete monitor for each service unit, the monitor is connected to the upstream link of each serial channel and operable to receive the interrupt signal and to inform an interrupt processor of the interrupt and the service unit at which the interrupt was received.
3 more elements
A method for communicating interrupts from a plurality of service units to a control unit in a node, comprising:
- providing a discrete serial channel between each service unit and the control unit, the serial channel including an upstream link;
- providing a discrete monitor for each upstream link of the service units at the control unit;
- receiving an interrupt at a service unit;
- transmitting on the upstream link of the service an interrupt signal indicating the interrupt;
- receiving at the monitor for the upstream link the interrupt signal;
- and
- indicating to an interrupt processor at the control unit the interrupt and the service unit at which the interrupt was received.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.