COMMUNICATION STEERING FOR USE IN A MULTI-MASTER SHARED RESOURCE SYSTEM
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Accused Products
Abstract
New approaches for providing communication between multiple masters (12, 14) and one or more shared resources (24, 30, 100) are needed. One example of a resource that may need to be shared is circuitry complying with the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard (100). The USB specification defines the use of USB endpoints as data and control channels that reside in a USB device. In some cases it is desirable to have a certain number of endpoints controlled by one processor, and other endpoints controlled by a different processor, thus providing a shared control of all the endpoints. Circuitry (402, 417, 480) may be used to provide steering for additional signals such as interrupts. Other shared resources (24, 30) may use more centralized circuitry (36) to perform a steering function for additional signals.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1-36. -36. (canceled)
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37. A data processing system, comprising:
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a system bus; a first bus master coupled to the system bus; a second bus master coupled to the system bus; and a resource coupled to the system bus and useable by the first bus master and the second bus master, wherein the resource comprises; endpoint storage circuitry comprising a plurality of endpoints, wherein each of the plurality of endpoints is allocatable to at least one of the first bus master and the second bus master, and wherein allocatability of each of the plurality of endpoints is programmable. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method, comprising:
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providing a first bus master coupled to a system bus; providing a second bus master coupled to the system bus; providing a resource coupled to the system bus; providing a programmable circuit in the resource; establishing a communication path between the resource and at least one of the first and second bus masters, wherein the communication path is determined by the programmable circuit in the resource, and wherein no additional steering logic is required in the communication path between the resource and the at least one of the first and second bus masters; and transferring an additional signal, separate from the system bus, between the resource and the at least one of the first and second bus masters via the communication path. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A data processing system, comprising:
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a first bus master coupled to a system bus; a second bus master coupled to the system bus; a resource coupled to the system bus, the resource comprising; a programmable circuit; and steering logic for establishing a communication path between the resource and at least one of the first and second bus masters, wherein the communication path is determined by the programmable circuit in the resource, and wherein no additional steering logic is required in the communication path between the resource and the at least one of the first and second bus masters; and a conductor for transferring an additional signal, separate from the system bus, between the resource and the at least one of the first and second bus masters via the communication path.
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Specification