Dynamically reconfigurable multi-function PCI adapter device

• US 5,960,213 A
• Filed: 12/11/1996
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: 3D Labs
• Inventors: Wilson, Malcolm Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Kriess, Kevin A.
• Application Number:
  US08/763,855
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 395/651, 395/652, 395/653, 395/828, 395/830, 395/822
• US Class Current: 710/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4027 using bus bridges G06F13/4022 takes precedence

Abstract

A PCI compliant device having an internal function and a secondary PCI port for a second PCI device having additional functions. The device adapts its internal function and memory and the functions and memory of the second PCI device such that the host system sees only a single multi-function device, which appears to have the combined memories and functions of the adapter and second PCI device. Preferably the adapter itself includes a graphics pre-processor, and is connected to one or more rendering processors on the second PCI port.

Claims

1. A multifunction PCI adapter, comprising:

a PCI connection connected to a PCI port of a host system;

a sub-port for connecting at least one device having at least one PCI-compatible function;

hardware for executing at least one internal PCI-compatible function;

function mapping logic to map said internal function and said functions of said device to a single PCI function set;

address mapping logic to map device memory addresses of said device and internal memory addresses of said adapter to and from system memory addresses of said host system; and

message passing logic to pass messages between said host system and said PCI device.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein said device includes at least one graphics function.

3. The adapter of claim 1, wherein at least one of said internal functions is a PCI-compatible graphics function.

4. The adapter of claim 1, wherein said sub-port is a PCI bus.

5. The adapter of claim 1, wherein said host system interfaces with said adapter and said PCI device as a single multifunction PCI device.

6. A PCI-compatible graphics processor and adapter, comprising:

a PCI connection connected to a PCI port of a host system;

a sub-port for connecting at least one device having at least one graphics processor with a corresponding PCI-compatible function;

at least one internal graphics processor with a corresponding PCI-compatible function;

function mapping logic to map said internal functions and said functions of said device to a single PCI function set;

address mapping logic to map device memory addresses of said device and internal memory addresses of said adapter to and from system memory addresses of said host system; and

message passing logic to pass messages between said host system and said PCI device;

wherein each said graphics processor processes graphics data in conjunction with at least one other said graphics processor.

7. The adapter of claim 6, wherein said device includes at least one graphics function.

8. The adapter of claim 6, wherein at least one of said internal functions is a PCI-compatible graphics function.

9. The adapter of claim 6, wherein said sub-port is a PCI bus.

10. The adapter of claim 6, wherein said host system interfaces with said adapter and said PCI device as a single multifunction PCI device.

11. A method for adapting a single-function device to a multi-function computer port, comprising the steps of, in an adapter device which is connected to a host system:

receiving a query from a processor at boot time, and sending a reply through said port to said processor, said reply indicating that a multifunction device is attached to said port;

mapping said device to a specific function address on said port;

mapping system memory addresses received from said processor to corresponding memory addresses on said device, upon receiving memory access requests from said processor, whereby said memory addresses are accessible by said processor;

receiving an enable signal from said processor and passing said enable signal to said device;

accessing said remapped memory of said device according to access requests to said system memory addresses from said processor;

passing messages between said device and said processor, after performing any appropriate address translations according to said remapping steps.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said device includes graphics processing functions.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of mapping a read-only memory from said device to said internal memory.

14. A method for adapting one or more multi-function PCI compatible devices to a multi-function PCI compatible computer port comprising the steps of:

receiving a query from a processor at boot time, and sending a reply through said port to said processor, said reply indicating that a multifunction device is attached to said port;

mapping each function of said devices to specific function addresses on said port;

mapping system memory addresses received from said processor to corresponding memory addresses on said device, upon receiving memory access requests from said processor, whereby said memory address are accessible by said processor;

receiving an enable signal from said processor and passing said enable signal to said device;

accessing said remapped memory of said device according to access requests to said system memory addresses from said processor;

passing messages between said device and said processor, after performing any appropriate address translations according to said remapping steps.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said device includes graphics processing functions.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said internal function performs setup calculations for graphical rendering.

17. A method for adapting a multi-function PCI compatible device to a multi-function PCI compatible computer port via an adapter having an internal function and memory, comprising the steps of:

receiving a query from a processor at boot time, and sending a reply through said port to said processor, said reply indicating that a multifunction device is attached to said port;

mapping each function of said device and said internal function to specific function addresses on said port;

mapping system memory addresses received from said processor to corresponding memory address on said device, upon receiving memory access requests from said processor, said memory address being accessible by said processor;

mapping system memory addresses received from said processor to corresponding memory address to said internal memory on said adapter, upon receiving memory access requests from said processor, said memory address being accessible by said processor;

receiving an enable signal from said processor and passing said enable signal to said device;

accessing said remapped memory of said device according to access requests to said system memory addresses from said processor;

accessing said remapped memory of said device according to access requests to said system memory addresses from said processor;

passing messages between said device and said processor, after performing any appropriate address translations according to said remapping steps; and

processing instructions sent to said adapter from said processor or said device according to said internal function.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said device includes graphics processing functions.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said internal function performs setup calculations for graphical rendering.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of mapping a read-only memory from said device to said internal memory.