Method and apparatus for N choose M device selection
First Claim
1. An interconnect apparatus for selecting at least one of a plurality of selectable devices for communication, comprising:
- a plurality of N select lines;
a plurality of connections arranged to couple each and every one of the plurality of selectable devices to a unique combination of M of the plurality of N select lines, wherein M is greater than one and less than N; and
wherein the at least one of the plurality of selectable devices is selected for communication by activating at least one of the unique combinations of M of the plurality of N select lines.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for selectively enabling one of X agents in a system so as to allow the selected agent to be active in a shared communication system. The method comprises the steps of assigning each agent to a unique subset M of a plurality of N select lines, M being greater than 1 and less than N, and translating an identification number so as to assert M of the plurality of N select lines. The asserted M select lines uniquely select a designated agent. For one embodiment, all of the X agents may be selected by enabling all N select lines. For another embodiment, more than one but not all of the agents may be selected.
144 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An interconnect apparatus for selecting at least one of a plurality of selectable devices for communication, comprising:
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a plurality of N select lines; a plurality of connections arranged to couple each and every one of the plurality of selectable devices to a unique combination of M of the plurality of N select lines, wherein M is greater than one and less than N; and wherein the at least one of the plurality of selectable devices is selected for communication by activating at least one of the unique combinations of M of the plurality of N select lines. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 9)
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5. A system comprising:
- a first interconnect apparatus for selecting a subset of a plurality of selectable devices, the first interconnect apparatus comprising;
a plurality of N select lines; a plurality of connections arranged to couple each of the plurality of selectable devices to an unique group of the plurality of N select lines, each unique group having at least one select line different from the select lines of any other unique group and each unique group comprising M of the plurality of N select lines wherein M is greater than one and less than N; wherein a maximum number of the plurality of selectable devices is equal to a total number of the unique groups of the plurality of N select lines; and wherein the at least one device is selected for communication by activating at least one of the unique groups; and a second interconnect apparatus for selecting at least one of the subset of the plurality of selectable devices, said second interconnect apparatus comprising; a plurality of Y select lines; another plurality of connections coupling each of the plurality of selectable devices to an unique group of the plurality of Y select lines, each unique group of the plurality of Y select lines having at least one select line different from any other unique group and each unique group of the plurality of Y select lines comprising Z of the plurality of Y select lines wherein Z is greater than one and less than Y. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
- a first interconnect apparatus for selecting a subset of a plurality of selectable devices, the first interconnect apparatus comprising;
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10. A system comprising:
- a plurality of selectable devices;
an interconnect apparatus for selecting at least one of the plurality of selectable devices for communication, the interconnect apparatus comprising; a plurality of N select lines a plurality of connections arranged to couple each of the plurality of selectable devices to an unique group of the plurality of N select lines, each unique group having at least one select line different from the select lines of any other unique group and each unique group comprising M of the plurality of N select lines wherein M is greater than one and less than N; wherein a maximum number of the plurality of selectable devices is equal to a total number of the unique groups of the plurality of N select lines; and wherein the at least one device is selected for communication by activating at least one of the unique groups; and a translator that translates an identification number into a combinatorial representation that specifies one of the unique groups of the plurality of N select lines to be asserted to enable one of the plurality of selectable devices in response to the combinatorial representation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- a plurality of selectable devices;
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17. A controller device comprising:
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a plurality of N outputs; a translator circuit coupled to the plurality of N outputs, wherein; the translator circuit translates an identification number into a combinatorial representation that specifies which of the plurality of N outputs are to be asserted; the N outputs are asserted at least M outputs at a time, wherein M is greater than one and less than N; and the controller device is capable of selecting a maximum of X selectable devices, wherein X is equal to ##EQU8##
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18. A method for selecting between a plurality of selectable devices, comprising the steps of:
- assigning each and every one of the selectable devices to a unique combination of M of a plurality of N select lines wherein M is greater than one and less than N; and
asserting a first unique combination of the plurality of N select lines to select a first one of the plurality of selectable devices. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
- assigning each and every one of the selectable devices to a unique combination of M of a plurality of N select lines wherein M is greater than one and less than N; and
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23. A system comprising:
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a master including a plurality of N select outputs a plurality of selectable devices; and
,an interconnect apparatus arranged to couple each and every one of the plurality of selectable devices to a unique combination of M of the plurality of N select lines, wherein M is greater than one and less than N. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A system comprising:
- an N choose M selector arranged to couple each and every one of a plurality of selectable devices to a unique combination of M of a plurality of N select lines, wherein M is greater than one and less than N; and
##EQU11## groups of M of the plurality of N select lines. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
- an N choose M selector arranged to couple each and every one of a plurality of selectable devices to a unique combination of M of a plurality of N select lines, wherein M is greater than one and less than N; and
Specification