Buffering non-posted read commands and responses
First Claim
1. A southbridge device comprising:
- a transmit engine adapted to receive non-posted read requests from at least one requestor, and transmit upstream commands corresponding to said non-posted read requests in the order in which said non-posted read requests were received;
a receive engine adapted to receive response data in reply to commands previously transmitted by said transmit engine, and transmit responses to said at least one requestor based on said response data; and
a buffer unit connected to said transmit engine and said receive engine, said buffer unit being adapted to store command identification data identifying commands transmitted or to be transmitted by said transmit engine, and response availability data specifying response data that has been received by said receive engine;
wherein said transmit engine is adapted to write said command identification data into said buffer unit responsive to having transmitted said upstream commands.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved interface technique for use in a southbridge or I/O hub or in similar devices is provided where non-posted read requests are received from at least one requestor, and upstream commands based on these requests are transmitted. Response data is received in reply to commands that were previously transmitted, and responses are transmitted to the at least one requester based on the response data. A buffer unit is provided for storing command identification data that identifies commands that were already transmitted or that are still to be transmitted, and response availability data that specifies response data that has been received by the receive engine. The improvement may enable multiple outstanding read requests.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A southbridge device comprising:
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a transmit engine adapted to receive non-posted read requests from at least one requestor, and transmit upstream commands corresponding to said non-posted read requests in the order in which said non-posted read requests were received; a receive engine adapted to receive response data in reply to commands previously transmitted by said transmit engine, and transmit responses to said at least one requestor based on said response data; and a buffer unit connected to said transmit engine and said receive engine, said buffer unit being adapted to store command identification data identifying commands transmitted or to be transmitted by said transmit engine, and response availability data specifying response data that has been received by said receive engine; wherein said transmit engine is adapted to write said command identification data into said buffer unit responsive to having transmitted said upstream commands. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An integrated circuit chip comprising:
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a transmit circuit adapted to receive non-posted read requests from at least one requestor, and transmit upstream commands corresponding to said non-posted read requests in the order in which said non-posted read requests were received; a receive circuit adapted to receive response data in reply to commands previously transmitted by said transmit circuit, and transmit responses to said at least one requestor based on said response data; and a buffer unit connected to said transmit circuit and said receive circuit, said buffer unit being adapted to store command identification data identifying commands transmitted or to be transmitted by said transmit circuit, and response availability data specifying response data that has been received by said receive circuit; wherein said transmit circuit is adapted to write said command identification data into said buffer unit responsive to having transmitted said upstream commands.
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21. A computer system comprising:
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at least one peripheral component; and a southbridge comprising a transmit engine adapted to receive non-posted read requests from at least one peripheral component controller, and transmit upstream commands corresponding to said non-posted read requests in the order in which said non-posted read requests were received; and
a receive engine adapted to receive response data in reply to commands previously transmitted by said transmit engine, and transmit responses to said at least one peripheral component controller based on said response data;wherein said southbridge further comprises a buffer unit connected to said transmit engine and said receive engine, said buffer unit being adapted to store command identification data identifying commands transmitted or to be transmitted by said transmit engine, and response availability data specifying response data that has been received by said receive engine; and wherein said transmit engine is adapted to write said command identification data into said buffer unit responsive to having transmitted said upstream commands.
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22. A method of operating a southbridge device, the method comprising:
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receiving non-posted read requests from at least one requestor; transmitting upstream commands corresponding to said non-posted read requests in the order in which said non-posted read requests were received; receiving response data in reply to previously transmitted commands; and transmitting responses to said at least one requestor based on said response data, wherein the method further comprises; storing command identification data identifying transmitted or to be transmitted commands; storing response availability data specifying received response data; and writing said command identification data into a buffer responsive to transmitting said upstream commands. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification