Method and apparatus for communicating data across a bus bridge upon request

• US 5,511,165 A
• Filed: 10/23/1992
• Issued: 04/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: MacInnis, Alexander G., Brady, Michael S., Powell, Vernon T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B.
• Application Number:
  US07/967,488
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 395/275, 395/550, 395/200, 395/500, 395/800, 395/200.01, 364/DIG. 1 MS File, 364/DIG. 2 MS File
• US Class Current: 709/216
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4027 using bus bridges G06F13/4022 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of a processor communicating data across a bus bridge to a processing apparatus on a bus including the steps of storing the data into a processor memory, notifying the bus bridge, coupled to the processor and a bus, that the data is in the processor memory, reading the data from the processor memory upon request of the bus bridge, and forwarding the data from the bus bridge to the processing apparatus across the bus. In addition, an apparatus for a processor to communicate data across a bus bridge to a processing means on a bus including an apparatus for storing the data into a processor memory, an apparatus for notifying the bus bridge, coupled to the processor and a bus, that the data is in the processor memory, an apparatus for reading the data from the processor memory upon request of the bus bridge, and an apparatus for forwarding the data from the bus bridge to the processing apparatus across the bus.

Claims

1. A method of a processor communicating data across a first bus and s bus bridge to a processing means on a second bus comprising steps of:

a) storing the data into a processor memory;

b) notifying the bus bridge, coupled to the processor and the first bus and the second bus, that the data is in the processor memory;

c) reading the data from the processor memory across the first bus upon request of the bus bridge; and

d) forwarding the data from the bus bridge to the processing means across the second bus upon request of the processing means.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of storing includes storing the data in a predetermined area in the processor memory.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of notifying includes notifying the bus bridge of the amount of data stored in the processor memory.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising a step of storing the data read from the processor memory into a bus bridge memory.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of forwarding the data includes the processing means polling the bus bridge to determine whether data is available for reading.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising a step of forwarding the data from the processing means to another processing means across the second bus.

7. An apparatus for a processor to communicate data across a first bus and a bus bridge to a processing means on a remote second bus comprising:

a) means for storing the data into a processor memory

b) means for notifying the bus bridge, coupled to the processor and the first bus and the second bus, that the data is in the processor memory;

c) means for reading the data from the processor memory across the first bus upon request of the bus bridge; and

d) means for forwarding the data from the bus bridge to the processing means across the second bus upon request of the processing means.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the means for storing includes means for storing the data in a predetermined area in the processor memory.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the means for notifying includes means for notifying the bus bridge of the amount of data stored in the processor memory.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for storing the data read from the processor memory into a bus bridge memory.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the means for forwarding the data includes means for the processing means polling the bus bridge to determine whether data is available for reading.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising means for forwarding the data from the processing means to another processing means across the second bus.

13. A data processing system for a processor to communicate data across a first bus and a bus bridge to a processing means on a second bus comprising:

a) a processor for processing the data;

b) a processor memory for storing the data to be processed;

c) means for notifying the bus bridge, coupled to the processor and the first bus and the second bus, that the data is in the processor memory;

d) means for reading the data from the processor memory across the first bus upon request of the bus bridge; and

e) means for forwarding the data from the bus bridge to the processing means across the second bus upon request of the processing means.

14. The data processing system of claim 13 wherein the means for storing includes means for storing the data in a predetermined area in the processor memory.

15. The data processing system of claim 14 wherein the means for notifying includes means for notifying the bus bridge of the amount of data stored in the processor memory.

16. The data processing system of claim 15 further comprising means for storing the data read from the processor memory into a bus bridge memory.

17. The data processing system of claim 16 wherein the means for forwarding the data includes means for the processing means polling the bus bridge to determine whether data is available for reading.

18. The data processing system of claim 17 further comprising means for forwarding the data from the processing means to another processing means across the second bus.

19. A computer program product stored in memory for instructing a processor to communicate data across a first bus and a bus bridge to a processing means on a second bus comprising:

a) means stored in memory for storing the data into a processor memory;

b) means stored in memory for notifying the bus bridge, coupled to the processor and the first bus and the second bus, that the data is in the processor memory;

c) means stored in memory for reading the data from the processor memory across the first bus upon request of the bus bridge; and

d) means stored in memory for forwarding the data from the bus bridge to the processing means across the second bus upon request of the processing means.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the means for storing includes means stored in memory for storing the data in a predetermined area in the processor memory.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the means for notifying includes means stored in memory for notifying the bus bridge of the amount of data stored in the processor memory.

22. The computer program product of claim 21 further comprising means stored in memory for storing the data read from the processor memory into a bus bridge memory.

23. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the means for forwarding the data includes means stored in memory for the processing means polling the bus bridge to determine whether data is available for reading.

24. The computer program product of claim 23 further comprising means stored in memory for forwarding the data from the processing means to another processing means across the second bus.