System and method for direct memory access from host without processor intervention wherein automatic access to memory during host start up does not occur
First Claim
1. A method of providing programmed direct access to peripheral memory located on a peripheral device including a microprocessor and controller circuitry by a host device, via a bus interface, comprising:
- writing an address to a host-configured address register located on the peripheral device, wherein the address is generated and transmitted by host software executed by the host device via the bus interface; and
accessing the peripheral memory at a location corresponding to the address written in the host address register by the controller circuitry without burdening the microprocessor, wherein said accessing does not occur as part of an automatic access to the peripheral memory during host device start up.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for allowing a host device (e.g., server) to perform programmed direct accesses to peripheral memory (e.g., flash) located on a peripheral device (e.g., HBA), without the assistance of a microprocessor located on the peripheral device. In a preferred embodiment, new host registers are implemented within controller circuitry of the peripheral device, the host registers being configured to be recognized by host software executed by host. The host device reads and writes to the host registers, which causes appropriate controller hardware to access the peripheral nonvolatile memory accordingly. By creating and implementing the new host registers, an enhanced controller is created that allows a host device to directly access peripheral memory, without peripheral processor assistance.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of providing programmed direct access to peripheral memory located on a peripheral device including a microprocessor and controller circuitry by a host device, via a bus interface, comprising:
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writing an address to a host-configured address register located on the peripheral device, wherein the address is generated and transmitted by host software executed by the host device via the bus interface; and accessing the peripheral memory at a location corresponding to the address written in the host address register by the controller circuitry without burdening the microprocessor, wherein said accessing does not occur as part of an automatic access to the peripheral memory during host device start up. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of providing a host device programmed direct access to peripheral memory located on a peripheral device including a microprocessor and controller circuitry, comprising:
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mapping a plurality of registers to host configuration space so as to allow host software executed by the host device to read and write to the plurality of registers, wherein the plurality of registers are located on the peripheral device and comprises an address register and a data register; and writing a desired address in the address register, wherein the host software generates the desired address and writes it in the address register, thereby causing controller circuitry within the peripheral device to automatically access the peripheral memory at a location corresponding to the desired address without burdening the microprocessor, wherein said act of writing occurs after host device start operations have been completed. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A system for providing direct host device access comprising:
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a host device comprising host software and being configured to execute said software; a peripheral device further comprising; a peripheral memory; a microprocessor connected to the peripheral memory; means for writing an address to a host-configured address register located on the peripheral device, wherein the address is generated and transmitted by the host software executed by the host device after host device start up operations are completed; and a controller circuitry connected to the peripheral memory configured for accessing the peripheral memory at a location corresponding to the address written in the host address register without burdening the microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer readable storage device, for storing computer-executable instructions that when executed perform a method of providing a host device programmed direct access to peripheral memory located on a peripheral device including a microprocessor and control circuitry, the method comprising:
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mapping a plurality of registers to host configuration space so as to allow host software executed by the host device to read and write to the plurality of registers, wherein the plurality of registers are located on the peripheral device and comprises an address register and a data register; and writing a desired address in the address register, wherein the host software generates the desired address and writes it in the address register, thereby causing the controller circuitry within the peripheral device to automatically access the peripheral memory at a location corresponding to the desired address without burdening the microprocessor, wherein said writing occurs after start up operations for said host device have been completed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification