Service interface to a memory system
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsKevin C. Gower, Warren E. Maule, Juergen Saalmueller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cascaded interconnect system for providing a service interface to a memory system. The cascaded interconnect system includes a master service interface module, a service interface bus, and one or more slave service interface modules. The master service interface module and the slave interface modules are cascade interconnected via the service interface bus. Each slave service interface module is in communication with a corresponding memory module for providing a service to the memory module.
Claims17
A system for providing a service interface to a memory system, the system comprising:
- a first memory module including:
- connections to first and second cascade interconnected memory busses for transmitting memory commands and memory data in a cascaded interconnect memory system, the memory system comprising a memory controller and one or more memory modules including the first memory module;
- and
- a connection to a service interface bus that operates independently of the first and second memory busses;
- a master service interface module for generating service commands for the one or more memory modules in the memory system;
- the service interface bus comprising a bidirectional data wire and a clock wire;
- and
- one or more slave service interface modules, wherein the master service interface module and the slave service interface modules are cascade interconnected via the bidirectional data wire and the clock wire of the service interface bus and each slave service interface module is integrated on a corresponding memory module in the memory system for providing a service to the corresponding memory module in response to the service commands, thereby providing a dedicated service interface to the memory system.
A computer-readable storage medium encoded with machine readable computer program code for providing a service interface to a memory subsystem, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions for causing a computer to implement a method comprising:
- receiving an input signal at a slave service interface module in a cascaded interconnect system that includes a master service interface module for generating input signals and one or more slave service interface modules that are cascade interconnected by a bidirectional data wire and a clock wire of a service interface bus, each slave service interface module integrated on a corresponding memory module in a memory system that comprises one or more memory modules and a memory controller cascade interconnected by one or more memory busses for transmitting memory commands and memory data, wherein the service interface bus operates independently of and is physically separate from the memory busses, thereby providing a dedicated service interface to the memory system;
- transmitting the input signal via the service interface bus in response to the receiving;
- and
- providing a service to the memory module in response to the input signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.