Packet fastbus
First Claim
1. In combination:
- a plurality of devices, each of said devices comprising means for generating an information packet;
a first synchronous bus means for interconnecting said plurality of devices forming a cluster and for transferring said information packet on said bus means within one clock cycle time, said generating means of said devices receiving a packet transfer acknowledge signal within said one clock cycle time;
a bus coupler means coupled to said first synchronous bus means and a second synchronous bus means for storing and forwarding said information packet to a specified destination in accordance with said information packet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A digital system comprising a synchronous fastbus for interconnecting a cluster of devices such as processors and for interconnecting a plurality of said clusters. Information is transferred over the synchronous fastbus using a parallel digital word information packet. All required bus control signals including acknowledge and non-acknowledge signals take place within the same packet transfer fastbus cycle time. A command information packet is transferred over the fastbus separately from a response information packet thereby leaving the fastbus free until a response packet is returned to the requestor. During the interim other devices are allowed to access the fastbus, thereby increasing significantly fastbus utilization.
81 Citations
24 Claims
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1. In combination:
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a plurality of devices, each of said devices comprising means for generating an information packet; a first synchronous bus means for interconnecting said plurality of devices forming a cluster and for transferring said information packet on said bus means within one clock cycle time, said generating means of said devices receiving a packet transfer acknowledge signal within said one clock cycle time; a bus coupler means coupled to said first synchronous bus means and a second synchronous bus means for storing and forwarding said information packet to a specified destination in accordance with said information packet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In combination:
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a plurality of devices, each of said devices comprising means for generating an information packet; a first synchronous bus means for interconnecting said plurality of devices forming a cluster and for transferring said information packet on said bus means within one clock cycle time, said generating means of said devices receiving a packet transfer acknowledge signal within said one clock cycle time; a bus coupler means having a first port coupled to said first synchronous bus means for storing and forwarding said information packet to a specified destination; and a second synchronous bus means coupled to a second port of said bus coupler means for routing said information packet to and from said bus coupler means. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A digital system comprising:
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a synchronous system fastbus means for routing an information packet within said digital system; a plurality of clusters interconnected by said system fastbus means; each of said clusters comprising a plurality of devices interconnected by a synchronous cluster fastbus means for transferring said information packet on said cluster fastbus means within one clock cycle time, said devices receiving a packet transfer acknowledge signal within said one clock cycle time; and a bus coupler means in each of said clusters connected between said cluster fastbus means and said system fastbus means for storing said information packet and routing said information packet to a destination in said digital system within one clock cycle time. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of transferring parallel digital information among a plurality of devices arranged in clusters within a digital system comprising the steps of:
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generating in a first one of said plurality of devices an information packet comprising a plurality of fields including address, data and control fields; transferring said information packet on a synchronous cluster fastbus means interconnecting said plurality of devices within one clock cycle time; receiving at said first one of said generating devices a packet transfer acknowledge signal within said one clock cycle time; and storing and forwarding said information packet in a bus coupler means coupled to a synchronous system fastbus means, said bus coupler means having at least a first port and a second port for receiving and forwarding said information packet. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification