Programmable hardware mailbox message technique and system
First Claim
1. In a data processing system including a processor running control instructions and coupled to a mailbox for receiving a message, peripheral circuitry generating events to be serviced, and a mailbox message circuit coupled between said processor and said peripheral circuitry, a method for reporting said events to said processor comprising the steps of:
- setting a first memory in said mailbox message circuit to represent a plurality of allowable events, said plurality of allowable events being serviceable by said data processing system;
latching a plurality of event signals in a second memory of said mailbox message circuit, each event signal of said plurality of event signals originating from said peripheral circuitry and requiring service by said data processing system;
comparing said plurality of event signals with said plurality of allowable events to determine which of said plurality of event signals are currently qualified to be serviced by said data processing system;
transferring to said mailbox an encoded message indicating to said control instructions which event signal of said plurality of event signals is currently qualified to be serviced by said data processing system;
servicing said plurality of event signals latched in said second memory;
inhibiting subsequent latching of other event signals generated in said peripheral circuitry once said message has been transferred to said mailbox and until said plurality of event signals latched in said second memory have been serviced; and
storing a subsequent event signal in a third memory of said mailbox message circuit, said subsequent event signal representing said event generated by said peripheral circuitry after said message was transferred to said mailbox and before said plurality of event signals in said second memory have been serviced.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mailbox message system is coupled between a processor having a mailbox and one or more peripheral devices or circuits communicating information to the processor. The mailbox message system in the present invention reports events which occur in the peripheral devices or circuits to the mailbox within the processor to be serviced by the processor. The mailbox message system receives inputs from the processor indicating which events are allowed to be currently serviced by the processor and stores these inputs in a first memory. The mailbox message system further receives unique signals representing distinct events from the peripheral devices and stores these signals in a second memory. The generated events which are pending service in the second memory are then compared with the allowed events in the first memory. When a match exists, a message is encoded and transmitted to the mailbox of the processor indicating that the processor has an event to be serviced. The processor then must service all the pending events in the second memory.
46 Citations
13 Claims
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1. In a data processing system including a processor running control instructions and coupled to a mailbox for receiving a message, peripheral circuitry generating events to be serviced, and a mailbox message circuit coupled between said processor and said peripheral circuitry, a method for reporting said events to said processor comprising the steps of:
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setting a first memory in said mailbox message circuit to represent a plurality of allowable events, said plurality of allowable events being serviceable by said data processing system; latching a plurality of event signals in a second memory of said mailbox message circuit, each event signal of said plurality of event signals originating from said peripheral circuitry and requiring service by said data processing system; comparing said plurality of event signals with said plurality of allowable events to determine which of said plurality of event signals are currently qualified to be serviced by said data processing system; transferring to said mailbox an encoded message indicating to said control instructions which event signal of said plurality of event signals is currently qualified to be serviced by said data processing system; servicing said plurality of event signals latched in said second memory; inhibiting subsequent latching of other event signals generated in said peripheral circuitry once said message has been transferred to said mailbox and until said plurality of event signals latched in said second memory have been serviced; and storing a subsequent event signal in a third memory of said mailbox message circuit, said subsequent event signal representing said event generated by said peripheral circuitry after said message was transferred to said mailbox and before said plurality of event signals in said second memory have been serviced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a data processing system including a processor running control instructions, a mailbox coupled to said processor for receiving a message, and peripheral circuitry generating events to be serviced by said control instructions, a mailbox message circuit coupled between said mailbox and said peripheral circuitry for reporting said events to said processor comprising:
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a first memory coupled to said processor, said first memory having a plurality of data elements responsive to said control instructions running in said processor, said plurality of data elements representing allowable events eligible for service by said control instructions; a second memory coupled to said peripheral circuitry, said second memory having a plurality of data elements for storing event signals, said event signals resulting from said events generated by said peripheral circuitry, said plurality of data elements indicating which of said events are pending service by said control instructions; a comparator coupled to said first memory and said second memory for comparing said allowable events with said event signals to determine which of said event signals are currently qualified to be serviced by said control instructions; an encoder coupled between said comparator and said mailbox for encoding and transmitting a message to said mailbox, said message denoting that said event signals latched in said second memory are currently qualified to be serviced by said control instructions; a third memory coupled between said peripheral circuitry and said first memory, said third memory having a plurality of data elements for storing subsequent event signals resulting from other said events subsequently generated by said peripheral circuitry after said message was transferred from said encoder to said mailbox; and a control signal responsive to said control instructions indicating which memory contains said subsequent events signals pending qualification for service by said control instructions. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A data processing system comprising:
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a processor running control instructions; a mailbox coupled to said processor, said mailbox for receiving a message; peripheral circuitry generating events to be serviced by said data processing system; and a mailbox message circuit coupled between said mailbox and said peripheral circuitry for reporting said events to said processor comprising; a first memory coupled to said processor, said first memory having a plurality of data elements responsive to said control instructions running in said processor, said plurality of data elements representing allowable events eligible for service by said data processing system; a second memory coupled to said peripheral circuitry, said second memory having a plurality of data elements for storing event signals, said event signals resulting from said events generated by said peripheral circuitry, said plurality of data elements indicating which of said events are pending service by said data processing system; a comparator coupled to said first memory and said second memory for comparing said allowable events with said event signals to determine which of said event signals are currently qualified to be serviced by said data processing system; an encoder coupled between said comparator and said mailbox for encoding and transmitting a message to said mailbox, said message denoting that said event signals latched in said second memory are currently qualified to be serviced by said data processing system; and a third memory coupled between said peripheral circuitry and said first memory, said third memory having a plurality of data elements for storing subsequent event signals resulting from other said events subsequently generated by said peripheral circuitry after said message was transferred from said encoder to said mailbox. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification