US5761458A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intelligent bus bridge for input/output subsystems in a computer system
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1997-05-02
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Granted: 1998-06-02
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Expires: 2017-05-02
Abstract
Abstract An intelligent bus bridge contained in a single integrated circuit chip along with computer systems and server systems that employ intelligent input/output subsystems. The intelligent bus bridge includes a local processor coupled for communication over a local component bus, a local memory controller that enables access to a local memory from the local component bus, and a component bus bridge that propagates accesses between the local component bus and a system component bus. The single integrated circuit chip enables dual-porting of the local memory controller without significant increases in input/output pins. A mode control input to the intelligent bus bridge indicates whether the intelligent bus bridge functions in a local master mode or a host master mode in a computer or server system.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce Young
- 👤 Rick Coulson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/40; G06F13/4004; G06F13/4027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
An intelligent bus bridge contained in an integrated circuit chip, comprising: a local processor adapted for communication over a local component bus; a local memory controller that enables access to a local memory from the local component bus; a component bus bridge that propagates accesses between the local component bus and a system component bus; and a mode control input pin driven by a mode control signal, the mode control signal determining whether the intelligent bus bridge functions in a local master mode by configuring bus agents coupled to the local component bus or functions in a host master mode wherein the bus agents coupled to the local component bus are configured via the system component bus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
An intelligent bus bridge contained in an integrated circuit chip, comprising: a local processor adapted for communication over a local component bus; a local memory controller that enables access to a local memory from the local component bus; a component bus bridge that propagates accesses between the local component bus and a system component bus; and a mode control input pin driven by a mode control signal, the mode control signal determining whether the intelligent bus bridge functions in a local master mode by configuring bus agents coupled to the local component bus or functions in a host master mode wherein the bus agents coupled to the local component bus are configured via the system component bus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The intelligent bus bridge of claim 1 wherein the local memory controller includes a port that enables access to the local memory from the local component bus and a port that enables access to the local memory from a local processor bus of the local processor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The intelligent bus bridge of claim 1 wherein the component bus bridge enables a hierarchical configuration space access mechanism from the system component bus to the local component bus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The intelligent bus bridge of claim 3 wherein the component bus bridge contains configuration registers that the local processor writes to, the configuration registers then enabling the hierarchical configuration space access mechanism if the mode control input indicates the host master mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The intelligent bus bridge of claim 1 wherein the local processor writes a configuration register in the component bus bridge to disable the hierarchical configuration space access mechanism if the mode control input indicates the local master mode.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for accessing a local component bus and a system component bus via an intelligent bus bridge contained in an integrated circuit chip, the method comprising the steps of: enabling communication to a local processor over a local component bus; enabling access to a local memory from the local component bus via a local memory controller; propagating accesses between the local component bus and a system component bus via a component bus bridge; and determining whether the intelligent bus bridge is functioning a local master mode by configuring bus agents coupled to the local component bus or in a host master mode wherein the bus agents coupled to the local component bus are configured via the system component bus, said step of determining being performed by a mode control input pin driven by a mode control signal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for accessing a local component bus and a system component bus via an intelligent bus bridge contained in an integrated circuit chip, the method comprising the steps of: enabling communication to a local processor over a local component bus; enabling access to a local memory from the local component bus via a local memory controller; propagating accesses between the local component bus and a system component bus via a component bus bridge; and determining whether the intelligent bus bridge is functioning a local master mode by configuring bus agents coupled to the local component bus or in a host master mode wherein the bus agents coupled to the local component bus are configured via the system component bus, said step of determining being performed by a mode control input pin driven by a mode control signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method claim 6 wherein the local memory controller includes a port that enables access to the local memory from the local component bus and a port that enables access to the local memory from a local processor bus of the local processor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the component bus bridge enables a hierarchical configuration space access mechanism from the system component bus to the local component bus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the component bus bridge contains configuration registers that the local processor writes to, the configuration registers then enabling the hierarchical configuration space access mechanism if the mode control input indicates the host master mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the local processor writes a configuration register in the component bus bridge to disable the hierarchical configuration space access mechanism if the mode control input indicates the local master mode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
143 words
A computer system, comprising: a processor coupled for communication over a host bus; a main memory coupled to the host bus; and an intelligent bus bridge contained in an integrated circuit chip, the intelligent bus bridge comprising: a local processor coupled for communication over a local component bus; a local memory controller that enables access to a local memory from the local component bus; a component bus bridge that propagates accesses between the local component bus and a system component bus; and a mode control input pin driven by a mode control signal, the mode control signal determining whether the intelligent bus bridge functions in a local master mode by configuring bus agents coupled to the local component bus or functions in a host master mode wherein the bus agents coupled to the local component bus are configured via the system component bus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
143 words
A computer system, comprising: a processor coupled for communication over a host bus; a main memory coupled to the host bus; and an intelligent bus bridge contained in an integrated circuit chip, the intelligent bus bridge comprising: a local processor coupled for communication over a local component bus; a local memory controller that enables access to a local memory from the local component bus; a component bus bridge that propagates accesses between the local component bus and a system component bus; and a mode control input pin driven by a mode control signal, the mode control signal determining whether the intelligent bus bridge functions in a local master mode by configuring bus agents coupled to the local component bus or functions in a host master mode wherein the bus agents coupled to the local component bus are configured via the system component bus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer system of claim 11 wherein the local memory controller includes a port that enables access to the local memory from the local component bus and a port that enables access to the local memory from a local processor bus of the local processor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer system of claim 11 wherein the component bus bridge enables a hierarchical configuration space access mechanism from the system component bus to the local component bus.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer system of claim 13 wherein the component bus bridge contains configuration registers that the local processor writes to, the configuration registers then enabling the hierarchical configuration space access mechanism if the mode control input indicates the host master mode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer system of claim 11 wherein the local processor writes a configuration register in the component bus bridge to disable the hierarchical configuration space access mechanism if the mode control input indicates the local master mode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-01 | 2001-12-01 | 2002-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-01 | 2005-12-01 | 2006-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-01 | 2009-12-01 | 2010-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |