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US5568619A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for configuring a bus-to-bus bridge
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1995-01-05
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Granted: 1996-10-22
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Expires: 2015-01-05
Abstract
Abstract An information processing system includes a processor for processing information; a processor bus, a first expansion bus; a host bridge for coupling the processor bus to the first expansion bus; a second expansion bus; a first bus bridge for coupling the first expansion bus to the second expansion bus; a plurality of input/output (I/O) devices coupled to the second expansion bus; and a first storage device for storing a first set of configuration data for the plurality of I/O devices; a second storage device for storing additional configuration data. The first storage device includes a register for storing a pointer for pointing to addresses in the first storage device for forwarding addresses sent from the processor to the I/O devices.
Inventors
- 👤 John W. Blackledge
- 👤 Ariel Cohen
- 👤 Sagi Katz
- 👤 Cindy M. Merkin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/40; G06F13/4004; G06F13/4027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
An information processing system comprising: a processor for processing information; a processor bus, coupled to the processor; a first expansion bus, coupled to the processor bus; a host bridge for coupling the processor bus to the first expansion bus; a second expansion bus; an expansion bus bridge, for coupling the first expansion bus to the second expansion bus, the expansion bus bridge comprising first storage means for storing a first set of configuration data for a plurality of I/O devices; second storage means for storing additional configuration data being subdivided to a plurality of variable length blocks corresponding to said plurality of I/O devices, wherein each block includes a length code for defining the size of a configuration space for each I/O device; and the first storage means further comprising a register for storing a pointer for pointing to a set of addresses in the second storage means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
An information processing system comprising: a processor for processing information; a processor bus, coupled to the processor; a first expansion bus, coupled to the processor bus; a host bridge for coupling the processor bus to the first expansion bus; a second expansion bus; an expansion bus bridge, for coupling the first expansion bus to the second expansion bus, the expansion bus bridge comprising first storage means for storing a first set of configuration data for a plurality of I/O devices; second storage means for storing additional configuration data being subdivided to a plurality of variable length blocks corresponding to said plurality of I/O devices, wherein each block includes a length code for defining the size of a configuration space for each I/O device; and the first storage means further comprising a register for storing a pointer for pointing to a set of addresses in the second storage means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The information processing system of claim 1, wherein the expansion bus bridge comprises the second storage means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The information processsing system of claim 1, wherein the first expansion bus is a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The information processing system of claim 3, wherein the first storage means is for storing 256 bytes of configuration data for the plurality of I/O devices, and the second storage means is for storing a number of bytes of configuration data that is greater than 256 bytes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The information processing system of claim 1, wherein the expansion bus bridge further comprises third storage means for storing a first set of status data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The information processing system of claim 5, further comprising fourth storage means for storing additional status data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The information processing system of claim 6, wherein the fourth storage means is incorporated in the expansion bus bridge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
157 words
In an information processing system including a processor, a processor bus, coupled to the processor, a first expansion bus, coupled to the processor bus, a host bridge for coupling the processor bus to the first expansion bus, a second expansion bus, a plurality of I/O devices coupled to the second expansion bus, an expansion bus bridge, for coupling the first expansion bus to the second expansion bus, the expansion bus bridge comprising: first storage means for storing a first set of configuration data for a plurality of I/O devices; second storage means for storing additional configuration data being subdivided to a plurality of variable length blocks corresponding to said plurality of I/O devices, wherein each block includes a length code for defining the size of a configuration space for each I/O device; and the first storage means further comprising a register for storing a pointer for pointing to a set of addresses in the second storage means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
157 words
In an information processing system including a processor, a processor bus, coupled to the processor, a first expansion bus, coupled to the processor bus, a host bridge for coupling the processor bus to the first expansion bus, a second expansion bus, a plurality of I/O devices coupled to the second expansion bus, an expansion bus bridge, for coupling the first expansion bus to the second expansion bus, the expansion bus bridge comprising: first storage means for storing a first set of configuration data for a plurality of I/O devices; second storage means for storing additional configuration data being subdivided to a plurality of variable length blocks corresponding to said plurality of I/O devices, wherein each block includes a length code for defining the size of a configuration space for each I/O device; and the first storage means further comprising a register for storing a pointer for pointing to a set of addresses in the second storage means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The expansion bus bridge of claim 8, wherein the expansion bus is a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The expansion bus bridge of claim 9, further comprising third storage means for storing a first set of status data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The expansion bus bridge of claim 10, further comprising fourth storage means for storing additional status data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The expansion bus bridge of claim 11, wherein the first storage means is for storing 256 bytes of configuration data for the plurality first storage means of I/O devices, and the second storage means is for storing a number of bytes of configuration data that is greater than 256 bytes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-22 | 2000-04-22 | 2000-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-22 | 2004-04-22 | 2004-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-22 | 2008-04-22 | 2008-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |