Apparatus and method for input data loss prevention with a buffered UART
First Claim
1. An apparatus for receiving data at two or more ports, each port having a buffer capable of holding B units of received data, said two or more ports being serviced by a processor resource, comprising:
- (a) software causing said processor resource to periodically poll each port for a variable period of time ("polling session") and to read unread units of data from the buffer in each port during its polling session;
(b) a counter for determining the number of units of data that have been read from the buffer; and
(c) circuitry responsive to said counter to assert flow control from said port based on the number of units of data read from the buffer.
4 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for handling data at two or more ports is described. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an apparatus for receiving data at multiple ports, each port having a buffer capable of holding B units of received data and being serviced by a processor resource. The apparatus has software causing the processor resource to have a polling session with each port and to read unread units of data from the buffer in each port during its polling session. It also has a counter for determining the number of units of data that have been read from the buffer and circuitry responsive to said counter to assert flow control from said port based on the number of units of data read.
18 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for receiving data at two or more ports, each port having a buffer capable of holding B units of received data, said two or more ports being serviced by a processor resource, comprising:
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(a) software causing said processor resource to periodically poll each port for a variable period of time ("polling session") and to read unread units of data from the buffer in each port during its polling session; (b) a counter for determining the number of units of data that have been read from the buffer; and (c) circuitry responsive to said counter to assert flow control from said port based on the number of units of data read from the buffer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling data received at two or more ports, each port having a buffer capable of holding B units of data and being serviced by a processor resource, comprising:
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(a) causing the processor resource to have a polling session of a variable time duration with each port and to read unread units of data from the buffer in each port during its polling session; (b) determining the number of units of data read from the buffer; and (c) asserting flow control from said port based on the number of units of data read from the buffer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33)
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25. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a processor resource to control data received at two or more ports, each port having a buffer capable of holding B units of data and being serviced by a processor resource, by performing a method comprising:
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(a) causing the processor resource to have a polling session of a variable time duration with each port and to read unread units of data from the buffer in each port during its polling session; (b) determining the number of units of data read from the buffer; and (c) asserting flow control from said port based on the number of units of data read from the buffer. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification