Bit-mapped DMA transfer with dependency table configured to monitor status so that a processor is not rendered as a bottleneck in a system
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- issuing, by a Direct Memory Access (DMA) engine, an update request to a dependency table if the DMA engine has finished executing a first descriptor; and
issuing, by the DMA engine, a monitoring request if the DMA engine is executing a second descriptor that depends on a completion of a data transfer so that the DMA engine can monitor a status of a selected subindex related to the data transfer, wherein the selected subindex is in the dependency table;
wherein the dependency table is coupled to the DMA engine by a request channel and a monitoring channel;
wherein the dependency table is coupled to a processor by an access channel; and
wherein the dependency table, request channel, monitoring channel, and access channel provide a hardware-based data transfer completion notification mechanism between the processor and the DMA engine so that the processor is not rendered as a bottleneck in a system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an embodiment of the invention, a method comprises: A method, comprising: issuing, by a Direct Memory Access (DMA) engine, an update request to a dependency table if the DMA engine has finished executing a first descriptor; and issuing, by the DMA engine, a monitoring request if the DMA engine is executing a second descriptor that depends on a completion of a data transfer so that the DMA engine can monitor a status of a selected subindex related to the data transfer, wherein the subindex is in the dependency table. In another embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises: a Direct Memory Access (DMA) engine configured to issue an update request to a dependency table if the DMA engine has finished executing a first descriptor, and configured to issue a monitoring request if the DMA engine is executing a second descriptor that depends on a completion of a data transfer so that the DMA engine can monitor a status of a selected subindex related to the data transfer, wherein the subindex is in the dependency table.
256 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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issuing, by a Direct Memory Access (DMA) engine, an update request to a dependency table if the DMA engine has finished executing a first descriptor; and issuing, by the DMA engine, a monitoring request if the DMA engine is executing a second descriptor that depends on a completion of a data transfer so that the DMA engine can monitor a status of a selected subindex related to the data transfer, wherein the selected subindex is in the dependency table; wherein the dependency table is coupled to the DMA engine by a request channel and a monitoring channel; wherein the dependency table is coupled to a processor by an access channel; and wherein the dependency table, request channel, monitoring channel, and access channel provide a hardware-based data transfer completion notification mechanism between the processor and the DMA engine so that the processor is not rendered as a bottleneck in a system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus, comprising:
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a Direct Memory Access (DMA) engine configured to issue an update request to a dependency table if the DMA engine has finished executing a first descriptor, and configured to issue a monitoring request if the DMA engine is executing a second descriptor that depends on a completion of a data transfer so that the DMA engine can monitor a status of a selected subindex related to the data transfer, wherein the selected subindex is in the dependency table; wherein the dependency table is coupled to the DMA engine by a request channel and a monitoring channel; wherein the dependency table is coupled to a processor by an access channel; and wherein the dependency table, request channel, monitoring channel, and access channel provide a hardware-based data transfer completion notification mechanism between the processor and the DMA engine so that the processor is not rendered as a bottleneck in a system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions operable to permit an apparatus to; issue, by a Direct Memory Access (DMA) engine, an update request to a dependency table if the DMA engine has finished executing a first descriptor; and issue, by the DMA engine, a monitoring request if the DMA engine is executing a second descriptor that depends on a completion of a data transfer so that the DMA engine can monitor a status of a selected subindex related to the data transfer, wherein the selected subindex is in the dependency table; wherein the dependency table is coupled to the DMA engine by a request channel and a monitoring channel; wherein the dependency table is coupled to a processor by an access channel; and wherein the dependency table, request channel, monitoring channel, and access channel provide a hardware-based data transfer completion notification mechanism between the processor and the DMA engine so that the processor is not rendered as a bottleneck in a system. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification