US5628029A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for monitoring distributed I/O device by providing a monitor in each I/O device control for generating signals based upon the device status
Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Ltd
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Filing: 1995-02-03
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Granted: 1997-05-06
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Expires: 2015-02-03
Abstract
Abstract A distributed I/O device monitoring logic for power management control. The distributed I/O device monitoring logic reduces the gate count of convention device monitoring logic since the decode logic does not exist at two locations in the system. The distributed I/O device monitoring logic also has the benefits of self configuring monitor circuits, improved functionality, and decreased system power management overhead. The distributed I/O device monitoring logic comprises peripheral control for monitoring an I/O address range of at least one I/O device and for detecting access to the I/O device; system controller means coupled to the peripheral control for providing a ready (RDY #) signal and a system management interrupt (SMI #) signal; and central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the peripheral control and the system controller means for receiving the RDY # signal and the SMI # signal from the system controller and for sending information to both the system controller and the peripheral control.
Inventors
- 👤 David R. Evoy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:51
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/30; G06F11/34; G06F11/3466; G06F11/3485; G06F11/3495; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
315 words
A distributed input/output (I/O) device monitoring logic system for power management control comprising, in combination: peripheral control means for monitoring I/O address ranges of a plurality of I/O devices being controlled by said peripheral control means and for detecting access to any one of said plurality of I/O devices comprising: a plurality of I/O device control means equal in number to said plurality of I/O devices wherein an individual one of said plurality of I/O device control means is coupled to an individual one of said plurality of I/O devices for controlling said individual one of said plurality of I/O devices; and a plurality of monitoring means equal in number to said plurality of I/O device control means wherein an individual one of said plurality of monitoring means is coupled to an individual one of said plurality of I/O device control means for monitoring an I/O address range of said individual one of said plurality of I/O devices, for generating I/O breaks when detecting access to said individual one of said plurality of I/O devices, for generating an SMI # signal after a period of inactivity to signal said system that said individual one of said plurality of I/O devices is not in use; system controller means coupled to each of said plurality of monitoring means for monitoring activity of all of said plurality of I/O devices being controlled by said peripheral control means, for providing a ready (RDY #) signal when access to any one of said plurality of I/O devices is complete, and for transferring said SMI # signal sent from said peripheral control means; and central processing unit (CPU) means coupled to said peripheral control means and said system controller means for receiving said RDY # signal and said SMI # signal from said system controller means and for sending information to both said system controller means and said peripheral control means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
315 words
A distributed input/output (I/O) device monitoring logic system for power management control comprising, in combination: peripheral control means for monitoring I/O address ranges of a plurality of I/O devices being controlled by said peripheral control means and for detecting access to any one of said plurality of I/O devices comprising: a plurality of I/O device control means equal in number to said plurality of I/O devices wherein an individual one of said plurality of I/O device control means is coupled to an individual one of said plurality of I/O devices for controlling said individual one of said plurality of I/O devices; and a plurality of monitoring means equal in number to said plurality of I/O device control means wherein an individual one of said plurality of monitoring means is coupled to an individual one of said plurality of I/O device control means for monitoring an I/O address range of said individual one of said plurality of I/O devices, for generating I/O breaks when detecting access to said individual one of said plurality of I/O devices, for generating an SMI # signal after a period of inactivity to signal said system that said individual one of said plurality of I/O devices is not in use; system controller means coupled to each of said plurality of monitoring means for monitoring activity of all of said plurality of I/O devices being controlled by said peripheral control means, for providing a ready (RDY #) signal when access to any one of said plurality of I/O devices is complete, and for transferring said SMI # signal sent from said peripheral control means; and central processing unit (CPU) means coupled to said peripheral control means and said system controller means for receiving said RDY # signal and said SMI # signal from said system controller means and for sending information to both said system controller means and said peripheral control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
106 words
A distributed I/O device monitoring logic in accordance with claim 1 wherein said system controller means comprises: general device monitoring means coupled to each of said plurality of monitoring means for monitoring all of said plurality of I/O devices being controlled by said peripheral control means, for receiving said SMI # signal generated by one of said plurality of I/O device control means and for sending said SMI # signal to said CPU means; and industry standard architecture (ISA) bus logic means coupled to said CPU means and said peripheral control means for receiving information from said CPU means and for supporting I/O devices including peripherals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A distributed I/O device monitoring logic in accordance with claim 2 wherein said general device monitoring means is further coupled to said plurality of I/O device control means and having means for optimizing said plurality of I/O device control means by altering timing of said plurality I/O devices to allow additional time for an SMI # status to be determined.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A distributed I/O device monitoring logic in accordance with claim 1 further comprising single bit means coupled to each of said plurality of I/O device control means for determining if any of said plurality of I/O devices are enabled.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A distributed I/O device monitoring logic in accordance with claim 4 wherein said single bit means coupled to each of said plurality of I/O device control means is also used for determining if any of said plurality of I/O devices are disabled.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A distributed I/O device monitoring logic in accordance with claim 4 wherein said single bit means for determining if any of said plurality of I/O devices are enabled further comprises means for allowing an internal timer, which monitors inactivity, to generate said SMI # signal in the event of a long period of inactivity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A distributed I/O device monitoring logic in accordance with claim 6 wherein said internal timer having means for using I/O activity and local device indicators of activity as a modem port.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A distributed I/O device monitoring logic in accordance with claim 5 wherein said single bit means for determining if any of said plurality of I/O devices are disabled further comprises means for allowing transfer of supplemental data by masking said plurality of I/O devices.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
323 words
A method of providing a distributed input/output (I/O) device monitoring logic system for power management control comprising the steps of: providing peripheral control means for monitoring I/O address ranges of a plurality of I/O devices being controlled by said peripheral control means and for detecting access to any one of said plurality of I/O devices comprising: a plurality of I/O device control means equal in number to said plurality of I/O devices wherein an individual one of said plurality of I/O device control means is coupled to an individual one of said plurality of I/O devices for controlling said individual one of said plurality of I/O devices; and a plurality of monitoring means equal in number to said plurality of I/O device control means wherein an individual one of said plurality of monitoring means is coupled to an individual one of said plurality of I/O device control means for monitoring an I/O address range of said individual one of said plurality of I/O devices, for generating I/O breaks when detecting access to said individual one of said plurality of I/O devices, for generating an SMI # signal after a period of inactivity to signal said system that said individual one of said plurality of I/O devices is not in use; providing system controller means coupled to each of said plurality of monitoring means for monitoring activity of all of said plurality of I/O devices being controlled by said peripheral control means, for providing a ready (RDY #) signal when access to any one of said plurality of I/O devices is complete, and for transferring said SMI # signal sent from said peripheral control means; and providing central processing unit (CPU) means coupled to said peripheral control means and said system controller means for receiving said RDY # signal and said SMI # signal from said system controller means and for sending information to both said system controller means and said peripheral control means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
323 words
A method of providing a distributed input/output (I/O) device monitoring logic system for power management control comprising the steps of: providing peripheral control means for monitoring I/O address ranges of a plurality of I/O devices being controlled by said peripheral control means and for detecting access to any one of said plurality of I/O devices comprising: a plurality of I/O device control means equal in number to said plurality of I/O devices wherein an individual one of said plurality of I/O device control means is coupled to an individual one of said plurality of I/O devices for controlling said individual one of said plurality of I/O devices; and a plurality of monitoring means equal in number to said plurality of I/O device control means wherein an individual one of said plurality of monitoring means is coupled to an individual one of said plurality of I/O device control means for monitoring an I/O address range of said individual one of said plurality of I/O devices, for generating I/O breaks when detecting access to said individual one of said plurality of I/O devices, for generating an SMI # signal after a period of inactivity to signal said system that said individual one of said plurality of I/O devices is not in use; providing system controller means coupled to each of said plurality of monitoring means for monitoring activity of all of said plurality of I/O devices being controlled by said peripheral control means, for providing a ready (RDY #) signal when access to any one of said plurality of I/O devices is complete, and for transferring said SMI # signal sent from said peripheral control means; and providing central processing unit (CPU) means coupled to said peripheral control means and said system controller means for receiving said RDY # signal and said SMI # signal from said system controller means and for sending information to both said system controller means and said peripheral control means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
108 words
The method claim 9 wherein said step of providing system controller means further comprises the steps of: providing general device monitoring means coupled to each of said plurality of monitoring means for monitoring all of said plurality of I/O devices being controlled by said peripheral control means, for receiving said SMI # signal generated by one of said plurality of I/O device control means and for sending said SMI # signal to said CPU means; and providing industry standard architecture (ISA) bus logic means coupled to said CPU means and said peripheral control means for receiving information from said CPU means and for supporting I/O devices including peripherals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said step of providing general device monitoring means further comprises the step of coupling general device monitoring means to said plurality of I/O device control means and having means for optimizing said plurality of I/O device control means by altering timing of said plurality I/O devices to allow additional time for an SMI # status to be determined.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of providing single bit means coupled to each of said plurality of I/O device control means for determining if any of said plurality of I/O devices are enabled.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said step of providing single bit means further comprises the step of providing single bit means coupled to each of said plurality of I/O device control means to determine if any of said plurality of I/O devices are disabled.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said step of providing single bit means for determining if any of said plurality of I/O devices are enabled further comprises the step of providing means for allowing an internal timer, which monitors inactivity, to generate said SMI # signal in the event of a long period of inactivity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said step of providing means for allowing an internal timer further comprises the step of providing internal timer having means for using I/O activity and local device indicators of activity as a modem port.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said step of providing single bit means for determining if any of said plurality of I/O devices are disabled further comprises the step of providing means for allowing transfer of supplemental data by masking said plurality of I/O devices.
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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) | 2000-05-05 | 2000-11-04 | 2001-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-05-05 | 2004-11-04 | 2005-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-05-05 | 2008-11-04 | 2009-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |