System for managing data flow among devices by storing data and structures needed by the devices and transferring configuration information from processor to the devices
First Claim
1. An apparatus for managing data flow among a plurality of input/output devices, comprising:
- a core memory storing I/O data and control structures needed by the input/output devices;
a processor, including local memory isolated from the core memory and storing control information and instructions used by routines executed by the processor managing data flow among the input/output devices;
a first memory interface responsive to the plurality of input/output devices, including means, in communication with the plurality of input/output devices and the core memory, for transferring I/O data and control data between the input/output devices in the plurality of input/output devices and the I/O data and control structures in the core memory;
a second memory interface responsive to the processor, including means in communication with the processor and the core memory, for transferring control data between control structures and I/O data in the core memory and the processor, and;
a configuration interface, coupled with the plurality of input/output devices and the processor, for transferring control and status information concerning control structures and I/O data in the core memory between the plurality of input/output devices and the processor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An internetwork device which manages the flow of packets of I/O data among a plurality of network interface devices includes a bus coupled to the plurality of network interface devices, a core memory storing only packets of I/O data and control structures needed by the plurality of network interface devices, and a processor including local memory isolated from the core memory storing routines and internetwork information involved in updating control structures and control fields in the packets of I/O data to direct movements of packets of I/O data among the plurality of network interface devices. A bus-memory interface is provided through which transfers of packets of I/O/data and control structures used by the plurality of network interface devices are conducted between the core memory and the bus. A processor-memory interface is provided through which transfers of data to or from control structures or control fields in packets of I/O data are conducted between the core memory and the processor. Finally, a processor-bus interface is included through which configuration information concerning control structures and I/O data buffers in the core memory are transferred between the plurality of network interface devices and the processor across the bus. The processor-bus and processor-memory interfaces include structures for decoupling processor accesses to configuration stores in the plurality network interface devices and to the core memory from contention with bus-memory interface transfers between the core memory and the plurality of network interface devices.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus for managing data flow among a plurality of input/output devices, comprising:
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a core memory storing I/O data and control structures needed by the input/output devices; a processor, including local memory isolated from the core memory and storing control information and instructions used by routines executed by the processor managing data flow among the input/output devices; a first memory interface responsive to the plurality of input/output devices, including means, in communication with the plurality of input/output devices and the core memory, for transferring I/O data and control data between the input/output devices in the plurality of input/output devices and the I/O data and control structures in the core memory; a second memory interface responsive to the processor, including means in communication with the processor and the core memory, for transferring control data between control structures and I/O data in the core memory and the processor, and; a configuration interface, coupled with the plurality of input/output devices and the processor, for transferring control and status information concerning control structures and I/O data in the core memory between the plurality of input/output devices and the processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for managing an interface among a plurality of network interface devices coupled to respective networks communicating packets of I/O data, comprising:
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a bus coupled to the plurality of network interface devices; a core memory; a processor including local memory storing control information and routines executed by the processor involved in moving packets of I/O data among the plurality of network interface devices; a bus-memory interface, including means, coupled to the bus and the core memory, for transferring packets of I/O data and control data used by the plurality of network interface devices between the bus and the core memory; a processor-memory interface, including means, coupled to the processor and the core memory, for transferring control data used by the plurality of network interface devices between the core memory and the processor, and; a configuration interface, coupled with the bus and the processor, for transferring configuration information concerning control structures and I/O data in the core memory between the plurality of network interface devices and the processor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for managing an interface among a plurality of network interface devices coupled to respective networks communicating packets of I/O data, comprising:
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a bus coupled to the plurality of network interface devices; a core memory storing only packets of I/O data and control structures needed by the plurality of network interface devices; a processor including local memory isolated from the core memory storing routines executed by the processor and internetwork control information involved in updating control structures or control fields in packets of I/O data to direct movement of packets of I/O data among the plurality of network interface devices; a bus-memory interface, including means, coupled to the bus and the core memory, for transferring packets of I/O data and control structures used by the plurality of network interface devices between the core memory and the bus; a processor-memory interface, including means, coupled to the processor and the core memory, for transferring data to or from control structures or control fields in packets of I/O data between the core memory and the processor; and a processor-bus interface, including means, coupled to the processor and the bus, for transferring configuration information concerning control structures and I/O data in the core memory between the plurality of network interface devices and the processor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification