Method and apparatus for latching data based on a predetermined number of signal line transitions
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorMark R. Greenstreet
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that keeps track of transitions on signal lines in order to latch a dataword in a stream of datawords. This stream of datawords is generated so that each transition between successive datawords involves a minimum number of transitions on a set of signal lines. During operation, the system monitors the set of signal lines that carries the stream of datawords. Upon detecting a predetermined number of transitions on the set of signal lines, the system waits a fixed time interval to ensure that a dataword is ready to be latched, and then latches the dataword.
Claims28
A method for using completion detection to latch a dataword in a stream of datawords, wherein each transition between successive datawords involves a minimum number of transitions on a set of signal lines, the method comprising:
- monitoring the set of signal lines that carries the stream of datawords;
- upon detecting a predetermined number of transitions on the set of signal lines,
- waiting a fixed time interval to ensure that the dataword is ready to be latched, and then
- latching the dataword.
An apparatus for using completion detection to latch a dataword in a stream of datawords, wherein each transition between successive datawords involves a minimum number of transitions on a set of signal lines, the apparatus comprising:
- a transition detecting circuit that is configured to monitor the set of signal lines that carries the stream of datawords;
- a latching circuit, wherein upon detecting a predetermined number of transitions on the set of signal lines, the latching circuit is configured to,
- wait a fixed time interval to ensure that the dataword is ready to be latched, and then to
- latch the dataword.
A computer system that performs completion detection to latch a dataword in a stream of datawords, wherein each transition between successive datawords involves a minimum number of transitions on a set of signal lines, the computer comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory;
- the set of signal lines, wherein the set of signal lines is configured to carry the stream of datawords between components in the computer system;
- a transition detecting circuit that is configured to monitor the set of signal lines;
- a latching circuit, wherein upon detecting a predetermined number of transitions on the set of signal lines, the latching circuit is configured to,
- wait a fixed time interval to ensure that the dataword is ready to be latched, and then to
- latch the dataword.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.