Network controller which enables the local processor to have greater access to at least one memory device than the host computer in response to a control signal

• US 5,765,027 A
• Filed: 09/26/1994
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toshiba America Information Systems Incorporated (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba America Information Systems Incorporated (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Jerry Borjeng, Harper, Robert Vernon, Shi, Chih-Chung
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Po C.
• Application Number:
  US08/310,298
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.05, 360/69, 395/293, 395/500, 395/297, 395/200.43, 395/200.59, 395/860, 395/882, 380/3, 439/61
• US Class Current: 710/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/128 for dedicated transfers to a network for protocol converters G06F13/387

Abstract

An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)/field programmable gate array (FPGA) which is a component of a wireless LAN controller including a local processor and a memory enables the controller to interface with both PCMCIA™ and AT™ host computer systems. The ASIC/FPGA enables communication between a radio frequency communication module, a local processor, and the host computer. The ASIC/FPGA also includes a throttle feature that decreases the access of the host computer in comparison to access of the local processor in order to enable the local processor to rapidly generate an acknowledge signal as required by various RF LAN specifications. During operation of the controller, data to be transmitted by the host computer onto the network is written by the host to an SRAM via the ASIC/FPGA, and the host commands the local processor via the ASIC/FPGA to forward the transmitted data to the RF communication module. Under the control of the ASIC/FPGA, the local processor then forwards the transmit data from the SRAM to the RF communication module. When data is received from the RF communication module, the local processor, under the control of the ASIC/FPGA, receives the data and stores the received data in the SRAM. The received data is then forwarded to the host computer via the ASIC/FPGA.

Claims

1. A local area network controller, comprising:

a host interface for interfacing with a host computer having a desktop or a portable computer architecture;

a network interface for interfacing with a network communication module;

at least one memory;

a local processor; and

communication means for enabling communication between said host interface, said network interface, and said local processor, wherein said communication means comprises

first means for communicating with said network communication module via said network interface,

second means for communicating with said local processor, and

interpretation means for receiving and interpreting information from said host computer via said host interface so as to determine when said host computer has a desktop architecture or a portable architecture, wherein said communication means further comprises means for enabling said local processor to have greater access to said at least one memory device than said host computer in response to a control signal.

2. A local area network controller according to claim 1, wherein said network communication module is a wireless network communication module for use in a wireless local area network.

3. A local area network controller according to claim 1, wherein said desktop computer architecture is an ISA architecture.

4. A local area network controller according to claim 1, wherein said portable computer architecture is a PCMCIA architecture.

5. A local area network controller according to claim 1, wherein the control signal is a throttle signal generated by said first communication means.

6. An integrated circuit for use in a local area network controller, comprising:

first means for receiving control signals and/or data from a host computer having a desktop computer architecture via a host interface;

second means for receiving control signals and/or data from a host computer having a portable computer architecture via said host interface;

third means for transmitting control signals and/or data to said host computer via said host interface;

fourth means for receiving control signals and/or data from a network communication module via a module interface;

fifth means for transmitting control signals and/or data to said network communication module via said module interface;

sixth means for receiving control signals and/or data from a local processor;

seventh means for transmitting control signals and/or data to said local processor; and

means for enabling said local processor to have greater access to a memory within said controller than host computer in response to a control signal.

7. An integrated circuit according to claim 6, wherein said network communication module is a wireless network communication module for use with a wireless local area network.

8. An integrated circuit according to claim 6, wherein said desktop computer architecture is an ISA architecture.

9. An integrated circuit according to claim 6, wherein said portable computer architecture is a PCMCIA architecture.

10. An integrated circuit according to claim 6, wherein the control signal is throttle signal generated by said fourth means.

11. An integrated circuit for use in a local area network controller, comprising:

first means for receiving control signals and/or data from a host computer via a host interface;

second means for transmitting control signals and/or data to said host computer via said host interface;

third means for receiving control signals and/or data from a network communication module via a module interface;

fourth means for transmitting control signals and/or data to said network communication module via said module interface;

fifth means for receiving control signals and/or data from a local processor;

sixth means for transmitting control signals and/or data to said local processor; and

seventh means for enabling said local processor to have greater access to a memory within said controller than said host computer in response to a throttle signal generated by said third means.

12. A local area network controller, comprising:

a host interface for interfacing with a host computer having a desktop or a portable computer architecture;

a network interface for interfacing with a network communication network; and

communication means for enabling communication between said host computer and said network interface, wherein said communication means comprises

a local processor,

at least one memory,

means for communicating with said network communication module via said network interface, and

interpretation means for receiving and interpreting information from said host computer via said host interface so as to determine when said host computer has a desktop architecture or a portable architecture, wherein said communication means further comprises means for enabling said local processor to have greater access to said at least one memory device than said host computer in response to a signal generated by said communication means.

13. A local area network controller according to claim 12, wherein said desktop computer architecture is an ISA architecture.

14. A local area network controller according to claim 12, wherein said portable computer architecture is a PCMCIA architecture.

15. An integrated circuit for use in a local area network controller, comprising:

a circuit for receiving control signals and/or data from a host computer having a desktop computer architecture via a host interface;

a circuit for receiving control signals and/or data from a host computer having a portable computer architecture via said host interface;

a circuit for transmitting control signals and/or data to said host computer via said host interface;

a circuit for receiving control signals and/or data from a network communication module via a module interface;

a circuit for transmitting control signals and/or data to said network communication module via said module interface;

a circuit for receiving control signals and/or data from a local processor;

a circuit for transmitting control signals and/or data to said local processor; and

,

a circuit for storing control signals and/or data, wherein a ratio of access to said circuit for storing control signals and/or data between said host computer and said local processor is determined by a control signal.

16. A method of enabling communication between a host computer having a desktop or a portable architecture and a local area network via a controller, comprising the steps of:

transmitting identification data from a host computer via a host interface to a controller, said identification data identifying the architecture of said host computer, and thereby configuring said controller;

controlling a ratio of access between said host computer and said controller to a memory in said controller in response to a signal;

writing data to be transmitted from said host computer onto a network to said controller;

forwarding said data to be transmitted from said controller to a network communication module via a network interface; and

transmitting said data to be transmitted onto said network.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the architecture of said host computer is an ISA architecture.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the architecture of said host computer is a PCMCIA architecture.

19. An integrated circuit for use in a local area network controller, comprising:

a host receiving circuit for receiving control signals and/or data from a host computer via a host interface;

a host transmitting circuit for transmitting control signals and/or data to said host computer via said host interface;

a network receiving circuit for receiving control signals and/or data from a network communication module via a module interface;

a network transmitting circuit for transmitting control signals and/or data to said network communication module via said module interface;

a local receiving circuit for receiving control signals and/or data from a local processor;

a local transmitting circuit for transmitting control signals and/or data to said local processor; and

a memory access circuit for enabling said local processor to have greater access to a memory within said controller than said host computer in response to a control signal.

20. A network interface device comprising:

a first interface connected to a local area network;

a second interface connected to a host computer;

a local processor coordinating the transfer of information between said first interface and said second interface,

a bus interconnecting said first interface, said second interface, and said local processor;

a bus controller for controlling access by said local processor and said host computer to said bus in response to a signal, said signal generated when an address of received information from said first interface matches an address of said host computer.

21. A network interface device according to claim 20, wherein said signal is a throttle signal.

22. A network interface device according to claim 20, wherein, in response to said signal, said bus controller allocates said local processor more access to said bus than said host processor.

23. A network interface device according to claim 22, wherein, with no signal, a ratio of access between said local processor and said host computer to said bus is 1:

1 and, with said signal, a ratio of access between said local processor and said host computer is 4;

1.

24. A network interface device according to claim 20, wherein, in response to said signal, said local processor communicates with said first interface at a greater rate than the communication rate between said host computer and said first interface.

25. A network interface device according to claim 20, further comprising a local memory, wherein access to said local memory is controlled in accordance with said signal.

26. A method of enabling communication between a host computer and a local area network via a controller, comprising the steps of:

receiving information over said local area network;

generating a signal in response to the receipt of said information;

controlling a ratio of access between said host computer and said controller to a memory in said controller in response to said signal;

writing to a memory in said controller the information from said local area network;

transmitting the information to said host computer.

27. A method of enabling communication according to claim 26, wherein said controlling step limits the number of read/write cycles available to said host computer when said signal is active.

28. A local area network controller, comprising:

a host interface for interfacing with a host computer having a desktop or a portable computer architecture;

a network interface for interfacing with a network communication network; and

a communication device for enabling communication between said host computer and said network interface, wherein said communication device comprises

a local processor,

at least one memory,

a communication circuit for communicating with said network communication module via said network interface, and

an interpretation device for receiving and interpreting information from said host computer via said host interface so as to determine when said host computer has a desktop architecture or a portable architecture, wherein said communication device further comprises an enabling circuit for enabling said local processor to have greater access to said at least one memory device than said host computer in response to a control signal.