Efficient communication of transaction types using separate and orthogonal attribute fields in packet headers transferred between hubs in a computer system

• US 6,175,884 B1
• Filed: 11/03/1998
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Ajanovic, Jasmin, Harriman, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, HAROLD J
• Application Number:
  US09/186,047
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 710/4, 710/5, 710/30
• US Class Current: 710/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/423 with synchronous protocol

Abstract

One embodiment of an apparatus for communicating transaction types between hubs in a computer system includes a data path input/output unit to output a packet header. The packet header includes a request/completion field to indicate whether the packet header is a request packet header or a completion packet header. The packet header also includes a read/write field to indicate whether the packet header is for a read packet or for a write packet. The read/write field further indicates whether a length of data is to follow the packet header. The packet header further includes a data length field to indicate the length of data.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a data path input/output unit to output a packet header, the packet header including

a request/completion field to indicate whether the packet header is a request packet header or a completion packet header;

a read/write field to indicate whether the packet header is for a read packet or for a write packet, the read/write field separate from the request/completion field, the read/write field along with the request/completion field further to indicate whether a length of data is to follow the packet header, the request/completion field and the read/write field located in the first byte of the packet header; and

a data length field to indicate the length of data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the packet header further includes a lock field to indicate that a current packet is part of a locked sequence.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the packet header further includes a transaction descriptor routing field and a transaction descriptor attribute field.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the request/completion field indicates a request header, the request header including a completion required field.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the request header further includes an address format field.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the request header further includes a space field to indicate a destination space type.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the request/completion field indicates a completion, the completion header including a completion status field.

8. A system, comprising:

a sending agent including a sending agent data path input/output unit to output a packet header, the packet header including

a request/completion field to indicate whether the packet header is a request packet header or a completion packet header,

a read/write field to indicate whether the packet header is for a read packet or for a write packet, the read/write field separate from the request/completion field, the read/write field along with the request/completion field further to indicate whether a length of data is to follow the packet header, the request/completion field and the read/write field located in the first byte of the packet header and

a data length field to indicate the length of data;

a receiving agent including a receiving unit data path input/output unit to receive a the packet header; and

a data path coupled to the sending unit and the receiving unit.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the packet header further includes a lock field to indicate that a current packet is part of a locked sequence.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the packet header further includes a transaction descriptor routing field and a transaction descriptor attribute field.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the request/completion field indicates a request header, the request header including a completion required field.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the request header further includes an address format field.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the request header further includes a space field to indicate a destination space type.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the request/completion field indicates a completion, the completion header including a completion status field.

15. A method, comprising:

outputting a packet header from a sending agent to a data path, wherein outputting the packet header includes

outputting a request/completion field to indicate whether the packet header is a request packet header or a completion packet header,

outputting a read/write field to indicate whether the packet header is for a read packet or for a write packet, the read/write field separate from the request/completion field, the read/write field along with the request/completion field further to indicate whether a length of data is to follow the packet header, the request/completion field and the read/write field located in the first byte of the packet header, and

outputting a data length field to indicate the length of data; and

receiving the packet header at a receiving agent.