Apparatus and method for direct memory access in a hub-based memory system
First Claim
1. A memory hub for a memory module having a plurality of memory devices, comprising:
- a link interface for receiving memory requests for access to the memory devices;
a plurality of memory device interfaces configured to each receive corresponding memory requests from the link interface, wherein each memory device interface is configured to be coupled to a specific memory device such that each memory device is coupled to only one memory device interface, each memory device interface comprising a memory controller that is operable to generate memory control signals in response to the received memory requests and to provide the memory control signals to the specific memory device to which the memory device interface is coupled to access the specific memory device;
a switch for selectively coupling the link interface and the memory device interfaces; and
a direct memory access (DMA) engine coupled through the switch to the memory device interfaces, the DMA engine operable to generate the memory requests for accessing the memory devices to perform DMA operations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A memory hub for a memory module having a DMA engine for performing DMA operations in system memory. The memory hub includes a link interface for receiving memory requests for access at least one of the memory devices of the system memory, and further including a memory device interface for coupling to the memory devices, the memory device interface coupling memory requests to the memory devices for access to at least one of the memory devices. A switch for selectively coupling the link interface and the memory device interface is further included in the memory hub. Additionally, a direct memory access (DMA) engine is coupled through the switch to the memory device interface to generate memory requests for access to at least one of the memory devices to perform DMA operations.
261 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A memory hub for a memory module having a plurality of memory devices, comprising:
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a link interface for receiving memory requests for access to the memory devices; a plurality of memory device interfaces configured to each receive corresponding memory requests from the link interface, wherein each memory device interface is configured to be coupled to a specific memory device such that each memory device is coupled to only one memory device interface, each memory device interface comprising a memory controller that is operable to generate memory control signals in response to the received memory requests and to provide the memory control signals to the specific memory device to which the memory device interface is coupled to access the specific memory device; a switch for selectively coupling the link interface and the memory device interfaces; and a direct memory access (DMA) engine coupled through the switch to the memory device interfaces, the DMA engine operable to generate the memory requests for accessing the memory devices to perform DMA operations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A memory module, comprising:
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a plurality of memory devices; and a memory hub, comprising; a link interface for receiving memory requests for access to the memory devices; a plurality of memory device interfaces configured to each receive corresponding memory requests from the link interface, wherein each memory device interface is configured to be coupled to a specific memory device such that each memory device is coupled to only one memory device interface, wherein each memory device interface comprises a memory controller that is operable to generate memory control signals in response to the received memory requests and to provide the memory control signals to the specific memory device to which the memory device interface is coupled to access the specific memory device; a switch for selectively coupling the link interface and the memory device interfaces; and a direct memory access (DMA) engine coupled through the switch to the memory device interfaces, the DMA engine operable to generate the memory requests for accessing the memory devices to perform DMA operations. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A memory system, comprising:
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a memory bus on which memory requests are provided; and a plurality of memory modules coupled to the memory bus, each memory module having a plurality of memory devices and a memory hub, the memory hub comprising; a link interface for receiving memory requests for access to the memory devices; a plurality memory device interfaces configured to each receive corresponding memory requests from the link interface, wherein each memory device interface is configured to be coupled to a specific memory device such that each memory device is coupled to only one memory device interface, each memory device interface comprising a memory controller that is operable to generate memory control signals in response to the received memory requests and to provide the memory control signals to the specific memory device to which the memory device interface is coupled access the specific memory device; a switch for selectively coupling the link interface and the memory device interfaces; and a direct memory access (DMA) engine coupled through the switch to the memory device interfaces, the DMA engine operable to generate the memory requests for accessing at least one of the memory devices to perform DMA operations. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification