Method and apparatus for storing multiple entry types and ordering information using a single addressable storage array
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsJeffrey Charles Swanson, Debendra Das Sharma
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for storing and reading an entry having one of a plurality of entry types and storing order information about stored entries, using a single addressable storage array. An index pipe maintains first in, first out order of the entries stored in the addressable storage array. Stages in the index pipe store a value representing the address of the stored entry in the storage array, the type of the stored entry, and the validity of the stored entry. Additional control logic implements order rules between entry types.
Claims20
A method of storing and reading entries of multiple types and storing ordering information about stored entries, using a single addressable storage array, comprising:
- storing an entry into an available address of the addressable storage array;
- storing a value representing the address and a value representing the type of the stored entry;
- reading an entry from the addressable storage array in accordance with order rules based on the entry type;
- transferring the read entry to a requesting device;
- and
- updating the stored values to reflect the removal of the entry from the addressable storage array.
An apparatus for storing and reading multiple entry types and storing order information about stored entries, using a single addressable storage array, comprising:
- an addressable storage array;
- an index pipe including one stage for each entry of the addressable storage array, wherein each stage of the index pipe is able to store information corresponding to the address and type of an entry in the addressable storage array;
- control logic for reading entries from the addressable storage array;
- control logic for returning removed entries to a requesting device.
A method of providing an entry from a buffer to a requester by applying order rules for plural entries having different entry types using entry ordering information and ordering rules, wherein the plural entries are stored in a single addressable storage array, wherein a type available value is set indicating the availability of an entry of a first entry type, the method comprising the steps:
- receiving a request for an entry of the first entry type;
- transferring the requested entry to the requester;
- removing the entry from the single addressable storage array;
- set the type available value to indicate the unavailability of an entry of the first entry type;
- determining an entry in the single addressable storage array to be the next available entry of a particular entry type using the entry ordering information;
- and
- if an entry of the particular entry type is available, set the type available value to indicate the availability of an entry of the particular entry type.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.