Apparatus and method for direct memory access in a hub-based memory system
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Abstract
A memory hub for a memory module having a DMA engine for performing DMA operations in system memory. The memory hub includes a link interface for receiving memory requests for access at least one of the memory devices of the system memory, and further including a memory device interface for coupling to the memory devices, the memory device interface coupling memory requests to the memory devices for access to at least one of the memory devices. A switch for selectively coupling the link interface and the memory device interface is further included in the memory hub. Additionally, a direct memory access (DMA) engine is coupled through the switch to the memory device interface to generate memory requests for access to at least one of the memory devices to perform DMA operations.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1-34. -34. (canceled)
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35. A method for executing memory operations in a computer system having a processor, a system controller coupled to the processor, and a system memory having at least one memory module coupled to the system controller through a memory bus, the method comprising:
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writing direct memory access (DMA) information to a location in the system memory representing instructions for executing memory operations in the system memory without processor intervention;
obtaining control of the memory bus from the processor and system controller;
accessing the location in the system memory to which the DMA information is written; and
executing the memory operations represented by the instructions. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for transferring data within a system memory included in a computer system having a processor, a system controller coupled to the processor, and a memory bus coupling the system controller to the system memory, the method comprising:
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writing DMA instructions to a location in the system memory, the DMA instructions representing instructions for executing memory operations to transfer the data including memory addresses corresponding to first and second locations in the system memory;
obtaining control of the memory bus; and
without processor intervention, accessing the location in the system memory at which the DMA instructions are written, reading data from the first location in the system memory and writing the data to the second location in the system memory. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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Specification