MEMORY ARBITRATION SYSTEM AND METHOD HAVING AN ARBITRATION PACKET PROTOCOL

• US 20080294856A1
• Filed: 07/08/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Jeddeloh, Joseph M., James, Ralph
• Granted Patent: US 8,082,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/154
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/1605 based on arbitration arbitration in handling access to a common bus or bus system G06F13/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/1642 with request queuing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/1684 using multiple buses

Abstract

A memory hub and method for transmitting a read response on a data path of a memory hub interposed between a transmitting memory hub and a receiving memory hub. An arbitration packet including data indicative of a data path configuration for an associated read response is received at the memory hub. The arbitration packet is decoded, and the data path is configured in accordance with the data of the arbitration packet. The associated read response is received at the memory hub and the associated read response is coupled to the configured data path for transmitting the same to the receiving memory hub.

Claims

1. A method of responding to a read request in a system memory having a responding memory hub and at least one interposing memory hub through which a read response is transmitted on a data path of the interposing memory hub, the method comprising:

retrieving read data from a memory device coupled to the responding memory hub and preparing a read response including the read data;

generating an arbitration packet including data indicative of a data path configuration for the read response;

providing the arbitration packet and the read response to the interposing memory hub, the arbitration packet provided prior to the read response; and

receiving the arbitration packet at the interposing memory hub, decoding the data of the arbitration packet and enabling a data path for the read response in the interposing memory hub in accordance with the data of the arbitration packet.

2-36. -36. (canceled)