Reduced hardware network adapter and communication method
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a network interface adapter for connecting a client computer to a computer network that includes a reduced hardware media access controller (MAC) coupled through a physical interface (PHY) to the network physical link. A significant portion of the MAC functionality is implemented as software within the processor of the host client computer. The hardware portion of the preferred MAC implementation provides memory for buffering communications between the PHY and the client computer. The preferred hardware aspects of a MAC in accordance with the present invention also includes a register interface for register-driven communications between the hardware portion of the MAC and the software portions of the MAC implemented within the client computer. By implementing most of the MAC functionality in software within the host computer, the preferred MAC provides lower cost, lower power consumption, and generally greater flexibility.
-
Citations
45 Claims
-
1-17. -17. (canceled)
-
18. A system comprising:
-
a hardware media access controller, the hardware media access controller including a memory to buffer data transferred between a physical interface to a network and a computer, and the hardware media access controller including a register interface; and
a memory storing media access control software that if executed by a processor of the computer causes the processor to perform one or more media access control communications functions. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. A system comprising:
-
a computer including a processor, a DRAM memory, and a bus;
an adapter including, a physical interface to couple to a network, and a hardware media access controller coupled to the physical interface and to the bus, the hardware media access controller including a memory to buffer data that is transferred between the physical interface and the computer, and the hardware media access controller including a register interface; and
media access control software stored within the DRAM memory that if executed by the processor of the computer causes the processor to perform one or more media access control communications functions. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
-
38. A memory storing media access control software that if executed by a processor of a computer causes the processor to:
perform one or more media access control communications functions. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
-
44. A method comprising:
-
installing a card in a computer, the card including a physical interface to a network and a hardware media access controller; and
installing media access control software within a memory of the computer, the media access control software including software that if executed results in a processor of the computer performing one or more media access control communications functions. - View Dependent Claims (45)
-
Specification