Method and apparatus for response modes in a pipelined environment
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A pipelined network comprising:
- at least one initiator device configured to issue requests;
at least one target device coupled to receive requests from at least one initiator device;
a target device configured to receive the request; and
bus signal lines comprising lines to issue requests and responses to requests between initiator devices and target devices and a response flag coupled between at least one target device and at least one initiator device;
said target device comprising logic to respond to the request comprising;
a first mode wherein a no-response-available NRA response is selectively issued if there is no space available in the target device to service the request and a response flag is set to a first state when space is available in the target device to service the request;
a second mode wherein the NRA response is selectively issued if there is no space available in the target device to service the request or the target device is busy and the response flag is set to the first state if space is available in the target device to service the request and the target device is not busy;
a third mode wherein the response flag is set to the first state and the NRA response is selectively issued; and
control logic to select the mode to utilize an NRA response and response flag with respect to an initiator device when a target device is unavailable to service the initiator device request.
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Abstract
A pipelined network is disclosed which provides for at least one mode to control the state of a response flag and when the target device is unable to respond to an initiator device request.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A pipelined network comprising:
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at least one initiator device configured to issue requests;
at least one target device coupled to receive requests from at least one initiator device;
a target device configured to receive the request; and
bus signal lines comprising lines to issue requests and responses to requests between initiator devices and target devices and a response flag coupled between at least one target device and at least one initiator device;
said target device comprising logic to respond to the request comprising;
a first mode wherein a no-response-available NRA response is selectively issued if there is no space available in the target device to service the request and a response flag is set to a first state when space is available in the target device to service the request;
a second mode wherein the NRA response is selectively issued if there is no space available in the target device to service the request or the target device is busy and the response flag is set to the first state if space is available in the target device to service the request and the target device is not busy;
a third mode wherein the response flag is set to the first state and the NRA response is selectively issued; and
control logic to select the mode to utilize an NRA response and response flag with respect to an initiator device when a target device is unavailable to service the initiator device request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A pipelined network comprising:
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at least one initiator device configured to issue requests;
at least one target device coupled to receive requests from at least one initiator device;
a target device configured to receive the request; and
bus signal lines comprising lines to issue requests and responses to requests between initiator devices and target devices and a response flag coupled between at least one target device and at least one initiator device;
said target device comprising logic to respond to the request comprising;
a first mode wherein a no-response-available NRA response is selectively issued when an early-flow-control mode is in an active state and a response flag is set to a first state when an early-flow-control mode is in an inactive state;
a second mode wherein the response flag is set to the first state and the NRA response is selectively issued; and
control logic to select the mode to utilize the NRA and response flag with respect to an initiator device when a target device is unavailable to service the initiator device request. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A pipelined network comprising:
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at least one initiator device configured to issue requests;
at least one target device coupled to receive requests from at least one initiator device;
a target device configured to receive the request; and
bus signal lines comprising lines to issue requests and responses to requests between initiator devices and target devices and a response flag coupled between at least one target device and at least one initiator device;
said target device comprising logic to respond to the request comprising;
a first mode wherein a no-response-available NRA response is selectively issued and a response flag is set to a first state when a first condition exists;
a second mode wherein an NRA response is selectively issued and the response flag is set to the first state when a second condition exists; and
control logic to select the mode to utilize an NRA and response flag with respect to an initiator device when a target device is unavailable to service the initiator device request. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22)
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13. In a pipelined network comprising at least one initiator device configured to issue requests and at least one target device coupled to receive requests from at least one initiator device, a method for notifying initiator devices that a target device is unavailable to service an initiator device request, the method comprising:
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selectively issuing a no-response-available NRA response if space is not available in the target device to service the request and setting a response flag to a first state if space is available in the target device to service the request;
selectively issuing an NRA response if space is not available in the target device to service the request or the target device is busy and setting the response flag to the first state if space is available in the target device to service the request and the target device is not busy;
setting the response flag to the first state and selectively issuing the NRA response; and
selecting a response to issue to an initiator device when a target device is unavailable to service the initiator device request.
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17. In a pipelined network comprising at least one initiator device configured to issue requests and at least one target device coupled to receive requests from at least one initiator device, a method for notifying initiator devices that a target device is unavailable to service an initiator device request, the method comprising:
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selectively issuing a no-response-available (NRA) response when an early-flow-control condition is in an active state and setting the response flag to a first state if an early-flow-control mode is in an inactive state;
setting the response flag to the first state and selectively issuing the NRA response; and
selecting a response to issue to an initiator device when a target device is unavailable to service the initiator device request.
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19. In a pipelined network comprising at least one initiator device configured to issue requests and at least one target device coupled to receive requests from at least one initiator device, a method for notifying initiator devices that a target device is unavailable to service an initiator device request, the method comprising:
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selectively issuing a no-response-available NRA response and setting a response flag to a first state when a first condition exists;
selectively issuing an NRA response and setting the response flag to the first state when a second condition exists; and
selecting a response to issue to an initiator device when a target device is unavailable to service the initiator device request.
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Specification