Memory handling system that backfills dual-port buffer from overflow buffer when dual-port buffer is no longer full
First Claim
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1. A memory handling system comprising:
- a register coupled to a source of data;
a dual-port buffer to receive data;
a fill logic to determine when the dual-port buffer is full; and
a memory controller coupled to a single-port overflow memory by a bi-directional bus and to the register, the memory controller routing data from the register to the overflow memory when the fill logic determines that the dual-port buffer is full, back-filling the dual-port buffer with data from the overflow memory when the fill logic determines that the dual-port buffer is no longer full, and routing data from the register to the dual-port buffer when no back-filling is in progress and the fill logic determines that the dual-port buffer is not full.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for buffering data. The apparatus stores information in a buffer. When the buffer is full, overflow data is stored in an overflow memory. As data is removed from the buffer, the overflow data is transferred from overflow memory to the buffer.
75 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A memory handling system comprising:
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a register coupled to a source of data; a dual-port buffer to receive data; a fill logic to determine when the dual-port buffer is full; and a memory controller coupled to a single-port overflow memory by a bi-directional bus and to the register, the memory controller routing data from the register to the overflow memory when the fill logic determines that the dual-port buffer is full, back-filling the dual-port buffer with data from the overflow memory when the fill logic determines that the dual-port buffer is no longer full, and routing data from the register to the dual-port buffer when no back-filling is in progress and the fill logic determines that the dual-port buffer is not full. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for buffering data comprising:
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receiving a data segment in a register from a source of data; transferring the data segment from the register to a single-port overflow memory by a bi-directional bus if a dual-port buffer is full; back-filling the dual-port buffer from the overflow memory if the dual-port buffer is no longer full; and transferring the data segment from the register to the dual-port buffer if the dual-port buffer is not full and the dual-port buffer is not being back-filled. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A graphics accelerator comprising:
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a register coupled to a bi-directional system bus for receiving graphics data from a central processor; a dual-port buffer to receive the graphics data on a first port and supply the graphics data to a graphics processor on a second port; a fill logic to determine when the dual-port buffer is full; and a memory controller coupled to a system memory by the bi-directional system bus and to the register, the memory controller routing the graphics data from the register to the system memory when the fill logic determines that the dual-port buffer is full, back-filling the dual-port buffer with the graphics data from the system memory when the fill logic determines that the dual-port buffer is no longer full, and routing the graphics data from the register to the dual-port buffer when no back-filling is in progress and the fill logic determines that the dual-port buffer is not full. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A memory handling system comprising:
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a register for receiving a data segment from a source of data; means for transferring the data segment from the register to a single-port overflow memory by a bi-directional bus if a dual-port buffer is full; means for back-filling the dual-port buffer from the overflow memory if the dual-port buffer is no longer full; and means for transferring the data segment from the register to the dual-port buffer if the dual-port buffer is not full and the dual-port buffer is not being back-filled. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification