Hardware assisted firmware task scheduling and management

A computer and communication link interface comprising:

• a data processing module having a central processing unit;
• a task management control system comprising:
• a plurality of task identifiers adapted to identify a task requesting service by the central processing unit;
• an arbitration system external to the central processing unit adapted to select a task identifier from one of the plurality of task identifiers and to provide to the central processing unit the location of data or at least one instruction, which location is determined by the identity of the task identifier, and to provide to the central processing unit the location of at least one instruction to initiate processing of the task, comprising:
• arbitration value determination logic adapted to determine at least one arbitration value of each task identifier requesting service;
• and
• arbitration logic adapted to select a task identifier requesting service based upon the at least one arbitration value for each task identifier requesting service.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• at least one data processing module having a central processing unit;
• a task management control system comprising:
• a plurality of task identifiers adapted to identify a task requesting service by the central processing unit;
• an arbitration system external to the central processing unit adapted to select a task identifier from one of the plurality of task identifiers and to provide to the central processing unit the location of data or at least one instruction, which location is determined by the identity of the task identifier, and to provide to the central processing unit the location of at least one instruction to initiate processing of the task, comprising:
• arbitration value determination logic adapted to determine at least one arbitration value of each task identifier requesting service;
• and
• arbitration logic adapted to select a task identifier requesting service based upon the at least one arbitration value for each task identifier requesting service.

A host bus adapter card comprising

• an integrated circuit comprising:
• at least one data processing module having a central processing unit;
• a task management control system comprising:
• a plurality of task identifiers adapted to identify a task requesting service by the central processing unit;
• an arbitration system external to the central processing unit adapted to select a task identifier from one of the plurality of task identifiers and to provide to the central processing unit the location of data or at least one instruction, which location is determined by the identity of the task identifier, and to provide to the central processing unit the location of at least one instruction to initiate processing of the task, comprising:
• arbitration value determination logic adapted to determine at least one arbitration value of each task identifier requesting service;
• and
• arbitration logic adapted to select a task identifier requesting service based upon the at least one arbitration value for each task identifier requesting service.

A data processing module having a central processing unit and a task management control means comprising:

• a plurality of task identifier means for identifying a task requesting service by the central processing unit;
• an arbitration means external to the central processing for selecting a task identifier from one of the plurality of task identifiers and for providing to the central processing unit the location of data or at least one instruction, which location is determined by the identity of the task identifier, and for providing to the central processing unit the location of at least one instruction to initiate processing of the task, comprising:
• arbitration value determination logic means for determining at least one arbitration value of each task identifier requesting service;
• and
• arbitration logic means for selecting a task identifier means requesting service based upon the at least one arbitration value for each task identifier requesting service.

A computer and communication link interface comprising:

• a data processing module having a central processing unit;
• a task management control means comprising:
• a plurality of task identifiers means for identifying a task requesting service by the central processing unit;
• an arbitration means external to the central processing unit for selecting a task identifier from one of the plurality of task identifiers and for providing to the central processing unit the location of data or at least one instruction, which location is determined by the identity of the task identifier means, and for providing to the central processing unit the location of at least one instruction to initiate processing of the task, comprising:
• arbitration value determination logic means for determining at least one arbitration value of each task identifier means requesting service;
• and
• arbitration logic means for selecting a task identifier means requesting service based upon the at least one arbitration value for each task identifier requesting service.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• at least one data processing module having a central processing unit;
• a task management control means comprising:
• a plurality of task identifier means for identifying a task requesting service by the central processing unit;
• an arbitration means external to the central processing unit for selecting a task identifier means from one of the plurality of task identifier means and for providing to the central processing unit the location of data or at least one instruction, which location is determined by the identity of the task identifier means, and for provide to the central processing unit the location of at least one instruction to initiate processing of the task, comprising:
• arbitration value determination logic means for determining at least one arbitration value of each task identifier means requesting service;
• and
• arbitration logic means for selecting a task identifier means requesting service based upon the at least one arbitration value for each task identifier means requesting service.

A host bus adapter card comprising

• an integrated circuit comprising:
• at least one data processing module having a central processing unit;
• a task management control means comprising:
• a plurality of task identifier means for identifying a task requesting service by the central processing unit;
• an arbitration means external to the central processing unit for selecting a task identifier means from one of the plurality of task identifier means and for providing to the central processing unit the location of data or at least one instruction, which location is determined by the identity of the task identifier means, and for provide to the central processing unit the location of at least one instruction to initiate processing of the task, comprising:
• arbitration value determination logic means for determining at least one arbitration value of each task identifier means requesting service;
• and
• arbitration logic means for selecting a task identifier means requesting service based upon the at least one arbitration value for each task identifier means requesting service.

A method of operating a computer and communication link interface including a data processing module having a central processing unit;

• comprising:
• utilizing task management control external to the central processing unit comprising:
• identifying a task requesting service by the central processing unit;
• selecting a task identifier from one of the plurality of task identifiers and providing to the central processing unit the location of data or at least one instruction, which location is determined by the identity of the task identified to be requesting service, and also providing to the central processing unit the location of at least one instruction to initiate processing of the task, comprising:
• determining at least one arbitration value of each task identified to be requesting service;
• and
• selecting a task identified to be requesting service based upon the at least one arbitration value for each task identified to be requesting service.

A method of providing host bus adapter functionality on an integrated circuit having at least one data processing module having a central processing unit;

• comprising:
• utilizing task management control external to the central processing unit comprising:
• identifying a task requesting service by the central processing unit;
• selecting a task identifier means from one of the plurality of tasks identified to be requesting service from the central processing unit and providing to the central processing unit the location of data or at least one instruction, which location is determined by the identity of the task identified to be requesting service by the central processing unit, and providing to the central processing unit the location of at least one instruction to initiate processing of the task, comprising:
• determining at least one arbitration value of each task identified to be requesting service by the central processing unit;
• and
• selecting a task identified to be requesting service by the central processing unit based upon the at least one arbitration value for each task identified to be requesting service by the central processing unit.