Input/output controller node in an adaptable computing environment

• US 20040181614A1
• Filed: 11/22/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: QST Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: QuickSilver Controls, Inc.
• Inventors: Master, Paul L., Furtek, Frederick Curtis, Plunkett, Robert Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,624,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0038 System on Chip

Abstract

A reconfigurable input/output controller (IOC) allows an adaptive computing engine (ACE) to communicate with external devices. The external devices can comprise a separate system on chip (SOC) or can be other devices or resources such as audio/visual output devices, memory, network or other communications, etc. The IOC allows different modes of transfer and performs necessary translation of input and output commands. In one embodiment, the IOC adheres to standard messaging and communication protocol used by other nodes in the ACE. This approach allows a uniform approach to the ACE design and provides advantages in scalability and adaptability of the ACE system. One feature of the invention provides a physical link adapter for accommodating different external communication types such as, RS231, optical, Firewire, universal synchronous bus (USB), etc. The physical link adapter uses a reconfigurable finite state machine, selectable couplings and a bus switch to allow connection of different communication types'"'"' signals to a common ACE component such as to an IOC.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable input/output controller (IOC), comprising

at least one input for receiving a point-to-point transfer instruction;

and

at least one output for providing a translated point-to-point transfer instruction to an external device.

2. The IOC of claim 1, wherein the IOC operates within an adaptive computing engine.

3. The IOC of claim 2, wherein the adaptive computing engine includes an interconnection network, wherein the external device is included in an external system, the IOC further comprising

at least one input coupled to the interconnection network.

4. A physical link adapter comprising

a first configurable coupling to a first connector, wherein the first connector receives a first set of signals of a first communication type;

a second configurable coupling to a second connector, wherein the second connector receives a second set of signals of a second communication type; and

a controller for selectively applying an output of either the first or second configurable coupling to a common bus.