Processor local bus posted DMA FlyBy burst transfers

• US 6,055,584 A
• Filed: 11/20/1997
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Otero, David, Schaffer, Mark Michael, Hofmann, Richard Gerard, Bridges, Jeffrey Todd, Wilkerson, Dennis Charles, Green, Edward Hammond III
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PANCHOLI, JIGAR K
• Application Number:
  US08/975,540
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 710/22-28, 710/128
• US Class Current: 710/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/28 using burst mode transfer, e.g. direct memory access DMA, cycle steal G06F13/32 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and implementing system are provided which includes a DMA controller coupled to a slave bus controller through a processor local bus. The slave bus controller is also coupled to a memory unit. The memory unit is connected directly to a peripheral device. The DMA controller is arranged to receive a data transfer request from the peripheral unit and initiate a transfer cycle with the slave bus controller. The slave bus controller is selectively operable to assert a transfer signal to the memory unit which enables data movement directly between memory and the peripheral device in accordance with the request from the peripheral device. Upon completion of the address transfer and prior to the completion of the data transfer, the slave bus controller generates a transfer complete signal back to the peripheral device. This technique allows for a DMA FlyBy transfer to be overlapped with a subsequent processor local bus transfer.

Claims

1. A data transfer system for accomplishing data transfers in an information processing system, said data transfer system comprising:

a peripheral device;

a first controller selectively coupled to said peripheral device;

a memory unit;

a primary bus;

a secondary bus connected between said peripheral device and said memory unit, said secondary bus being separate from said primary bus; and

a second controller connected to said first controller through said primary bus, said second controller being coupled to said memory unit, said second controller being selectively operable for controlling data transfers directly between said peripheral device and said memory unit over said secondary bus, said first controller being responsive to a data transfer request signal from said peripheral device for initiating a transfer cycle with said second controller, said second controller being responsive to said transfer cycle to selectively enable a data transfer directly between said memory unit and said peripheral device over said secondary bus, said second controller being operable to assert a transfer complete signal after said peripheral device acknowledges receipt of a transfer address, said transfer complete signal being operable to effect a release of said primary bus prior to a completion of said data transfer over said secondary bus.

2. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said data transfer is in a direction from said memory unit to said peripheral device.

3. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said data transfer is in a direction from said peripheral device to said memory unit.

4. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first controller is a DMA controller.

5. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second controller is a slave bus controller.

6. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first controller is a DMA controller and said second controller is a slave bus controller.

7. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first controller is operable to return an request acknowledge signal to said peripheral device after receiving said data transfer request.

8. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said request acknowledge signal is returned to said peripheral device after said transfer cycle has been initiated by said first controller.

9. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said peripheral device is responsive to said request acknowledge signal to allow said data transfer directly between said memory unit and said peripheral device in accordance with said data transfer request signal.

10. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said peripheral device is selectively operable to assert an address acknowledge signal after decoding a transfer address and transfer qualifications, said second controller being operable in a cycle following said assertion of said address acknowledge signal to assert a transfer complete signal, said transfer complete signal being operable to effect a release of control of said primary bus prior to a completion of said data transfer.

11. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said data transfer is in a direction from said memory unit to said peripheral device.

12. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said data transfer is in a direction from said peripheral device to said memory unit.

13. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first controller is a DMA controller.

14. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second controller is a slave bus controller.

15. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first controller is a DMA controller and said second controller is a slave bus controller.

16. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said data transfer is in a direction from said memory unit to said peripheral device.

17. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said data transfer is in a direction from said peripheral device to said memory unit.

18. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first controller is a DMA controller.

19. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second controller is a slave bus controller.

20. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first controller is a DMA controller and said second controller is a slave bus controller.

21. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said data transfer is in a direction from said memory unit to said peripheral device.

22. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said data transfer is in a direction from said peripheral device to said memory unit.

23. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first controller is a DMA controller.

24. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said second controller is a slave bus controller.

25. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first controller is a DMA controller and said second controller is a slave bus controller.

26. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said data transfer is in a direction from said memory unit to said peripheral device.

27. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said data transfer is in a direction from said peripheral device to said memory unit.

28. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said first controller is a DMA controller.

29. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said second controller is a slave bus controller.

30. The data transfer system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said first controller is a DMA controller and said second controller is a slave bus controller.

31. A method for transferring data in an information processing system, said method comprising:

receiving a data transfer request by a control device from a peripheral device, said peripheral device being coupled to a first bus;

initiating a transfer cycle to transfer an address associated with said data transfer request to a memory unit coupled to a second bus, said second bus being arranged to directly connect said peripheral device and said memory unit;

selectively enabling a data transfer directly between the memory unit and the peripheral device over said second bus; and

releasing said first bus prior to a completion of said data transfer over said second bus.

32. The method as set forth in claim 31 wherein said data transfer is from said memory unit to said peripheral device.

33. The method as set forth in claim 31 wherein said data transfer is from said peripheral device to said memory unit.

34. The method as set forth in claim 31 and further including:

sending a data transfer request acknowledge signal from said control device to said peripheral device following said transfer cycle; and

enabling said peripheral device to accomplish said data transfer after said data transfer request acknowledge signal has been received by said peripheral device.

35. The method as set forth in claim 34 wherein said control device includes a first controller coupled to said first bus and a second controller coupling said first bus and a second bus, said method further including:

sending a transfer complete signal from said second controller to said first controller after said enabling; and

releasing control of said first bus by said second controller following said sending.