Linear list based DMA control structure
DCFirst Claim
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1. A method for controlling a DMA controller through a linear list of DMA descriptors in memory, said method comprising the steps of:
- writing descriptor entries in said linear list of DMA descriptors, each said descriptor entry being added at the end of said linear list in said memory; and
reading said descriptor entry from said linear list of DMA descriptors starting at an address pointed to by a descriptor list pointer, said reading being performed by the DMA controller, each descriptor entry being accessed by the DMA controller in the order said descriptor entries were written to said linear list.
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Abstract
Linear list based direct memory access (DMA) control structure for controlling a DMA processor through a linear list of DMA descriptors in memory. A descriptor entry is deposited at the end of the linear list. Each descriptor entry has an address associated with their location in the linear list. A pointer to the linear list points to a single location in the linear Fist. A next descriptor entry is accessed by decrementing the address corresponding to the single location. The descriptor entries are read from the linear list of DMA descriptors DMA transfers are performed.
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21 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a DMA controller through a linear list of DMA descriptors in memory, said method comprising the steps of:
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writing descriptor entries in said linear list of DMA descriptors, each said descriptor entry being added at the end of said linear list in said memory; and reading said descriptor entry from said linear list of DMA descriptors starting at an address pointed to by a descriptor list pointer, said reading being performed by the DMA controller, each descriptor entry being accessed by the DMA controller in the order said descriptor entries were written to said linear list. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for controlling a DMA controller through a linear list of DMA descriptors in memory, said apparatus comprising:
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a linear list of descriptor entries having a descriptor list pointer pointing to an address corresponding to one of said descriptor entries; a CPU writing said descriptor entries in said linear list; and a DMA controller reading said descriptor entries from said linear list, each said descriptor entry being accessed by said DMA controller in the order said descriptor entries were written to said linear list. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for controlling a DMA controller through a linear list of DMA descriptors in memory, said apparatus comprising:
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means for storing a linear list of descriptor entries having a descriptor list pointer pointing to an address corresponding to one of said descriptor entries; means for writing said descriptor entries in said linear list; and means for reading said descriptor entries from said linear list, each said descriptor entry being accessed by said DMA controller in the or linear list. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for controlling a DMA controller through a linear list of DMA descriptors in memory, said system comprising:
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a linear list of descriptor entries having a descriptor list pointer pointing to an address corresponding to one of said descriptor entries; a CPU writing said descriptor entries in said linear list; and a DMA controller reading said descriptor entries from said linear list, each said descriptor entry being accessed by said DMA controller in the order said descriptor entries were written to said linear list. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for controlling a DMA controller through a linear list of DMA descriptors in memory, said system comprising:
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means for storing a linear list of descriptor entries having a descriptor list pointer pointing to an address corresponding to one of said descriptor entries; means for writing said descriptor entries in said linear list; and means for reading said descriptor entries from said linear list, each said descriptor entry being accessed by said DMA controller in the order said descriptor entries were written to said linear list. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification