DMA engine for protocol processing
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a direct memory access controller configured to write data to or retrieve data from a random access memory (RAM) unit; and
an associative memory buffer coupled to direct memory access controller and configured to store the data retrieved from the RAM unit or data to be stored in the RAM unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A DMA engine, includes, in part, a DMA controller, an associative memory buffer, a request FIFO accepting data transfer requests from a programmable engine, such as a CPU, and a response FIFO that returns the completion status of the transfer requests to the CPU. Each request includes, in part, a target external memory address from which data is to be loaded or to which data is to be stored; a block size, specifying the amount of data to be transferred; and context information. The associative buffer holds data fetched from the external memory; and provides the data to the CPUs for processing. Loading into and storing from the associative buffer is done under the control of the DMA controller. When a request to fetch data from the external memory is processed, the DMA controller allocates a block within the associative buffer and loads the data into the allocated block.
151 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a direct memory access controller configured to write data to or retrieve data from a random access memory (RAM) unit; and
an associative memory buffer coupled to direct memory access controller and configured to store the data retrieved from the RAM unit or data to be stored in the RAM unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of processing data, the method comprising:
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receiving a request to fetch data from an address in a first memory;
allocating a block of an associative memory to hold the fetched data;
loading the fetched data in the allocated block. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification