Multi-level memory access in an optical transceiver
First Claim
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1. A method of granting access to a system memory of an optical transceiver, the method comprising:
- an act of receiving a request from an external host processor for access privileges to at least one segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver;
in response to receiving the request for access privileges for the external host processor;
an act of a processing entity reading a first access entry of a memory access table of the optical transceiver, the first access entry defining an address of a first segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver and a first access condition for accessing the first segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver;
an act of the processing entity determining external host processor access privileges for the first segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver based on the first access condition read;
an act of the processing entity reading a second access entry of the memory access table, the second access entry defining an address of a second segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver and a second access condition for accessing the second segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver, wherein satisfaction of the second access condition satisfies the first access condition but satisfaction of the first access condition does not satisfy the second access condition; and
an act of the processing entity determining external host processor access privileges for the second segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver based on the second access condition read,wherein the second segment of system memory stores at least a portion of code used to control an internal function of the optical transceiver, the internal function including at least one of evaluating operational circumstances of the optical transceiver and adjusting settings of a post amplifier and/or a laser driver in the optical transceiver, andwherein the request received from the external host processor includes data written to a third segment of the system memory prior to determining external host processor access privileges for the first or second segments of the system memory of the optical transceiver.
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Abstract
A mechanism that enables an optical transceiver to grant access to its memory on a per-segment basis. The optical transceiver includes a processor, system memory and a memory access table. The memory access table is comprised of access entries, each of which defines the access condition for a corresponding segment of memory. The processor reads the access entries for a particular segment of the memory. The processor or other optical transceiver component then determines whether or not to grant access to the memory segment based on the access entry read by the processor. Different levels of access control may be accommodated.
67 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of granting access to a system memory of an optical transceiver, the method comprising:
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an act of receiving a request from an external host processor for access privileges to at least one segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver; in response to receiving the request for access privileges for the external host processor; an act of a processing entity reading a first access entry of a memory access table of the optical transceiver, the first access entry defining an address of a first segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver and a first access condition for accessing the first segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver; an act of the processing entity determining external host processor access privileges for the first segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver based on the first access condition read; an act of the processing entity reading a second access entry of the memory access table, the second access entry defining an address of a second segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver and a second access condition for accessing the second segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver, wherein satisfaction of the second access condition satisfies the first access condition but satisfaction of the first access condition does not satisfy the second access condition; and an act of the processing entity determining external host processor access privileges for the second segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver based on the second access condition read, wherein the second segment of system memory stores at least a portion of code used to control an internal function of the optical transceiver, the internal function including at least one of evaluating operational circumstances of the optical transceiver and adjusting settings of a post amplifier and/or a laser driver in the optical transceiver, and wherein the request received from the external host processor includes data written to a third segment of the system memory prior to determining external host processor access privileges for the first or second segments of the system memory of the optical transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An optical transceiver communicatively coupled to an external host processor, the optical transceiver comprising:
a control module configured to perform one or more control functions including evaluating operational circumstances of the optical transceiver and/or adjusting settings of a post amplifier and/or a laser driver in the optical transceiver, the control module including; a processing entity; a system memory divided into memory segments to enable access to the memory on a per-segment basis; a memory access table having a plurality of access entries, each access entry for defining an access condition for a corresponding memory segment of the system memory; wherein granting access to the system memory of the optical transceiver comprises; receiving a request from the external host processor for access privileges to at least one segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver, the at least one segment of the system memory storing code used by the control module to perform the one or more control functions; in response to receiving the request for access privileges for the external host processor; the processing entity reading a first access entry defining a first access condition for accessing a first segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver; the processing entity determining host processor access privileges for the first segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver based on the first access condition read; the processing entity reading a second access entry defining a second access condition for accessing a second segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver, wherein satisfaction of the second access condition satisfies the first access condition but satisfaction of the first access condition does not satisfy the second access condition; and the processing entity determining host processor access privileges for the second segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver based on the second access condition read, wherein the memory access table contains access conditions for accessing segments of the system memory utilized by at least two separate devices. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An optical transceiver communicatively coupled to a local host external to the optical transceiver, the optical transceiver comprising:
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a processing entity; a system memory divided into memory segments to enable access to the memory on a per-segment basis; and a memory access table having a plurality of access entries, each access entry for defining an access condition for a corresponding memory segment of the system memory, wherein the memory access table contains access conditions for accessing segments of the system memory utilized by at least two separate devices, wherein the optical transceiver has a form factor that complies with a standard optical transceiver form factor definition so as to fit within a standard-sized opening of the local, external host and to provide a communications interface between the local, external host and other nodes in a network, and wherein granting access to the system memory of the optical transceiver comprises; receiving a request from the local external host for access privileges to at least one segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver; in response to receiving the request for access privileges for the local, external host; the processing entity reading a first access entry defining a first access condition for accessing a first segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver; the processing entity determining host processor access privileges for the first segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver based on the first access condition read; the processing entity reading a second access entry defining a second access condition for accessing a second segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver, wherein satisfaction of the second access condition satisfies the first access condition but satisfaction of the first access condition does not satisfy the second access condition; and the processing entity determining host processor access privileges for the second segment of the system memory of the optical transceiver based on the second access condition read, wherein the first and second access conditions each comprise a one byte entry in the memory access table, and wherein the request received from the local, external host includes data written to a third segment of the system memory prior to determining host processor access privileges for the first or second segments of the system memory of the optical transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification