US5680592A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System using a plurality of state machines for translating commands intended for legacy bus devices to commands for local bus devices
Assignee: Nvidia Corp
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Filing: 1995-04-14
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Granted: 1997-10-21
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Expires: 2015-04-14
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for emulating input/output devices on an ISA bus using input/output devices on a local bus which includes circuitry for snooping on the bus to capture commands sent to input/output devices the functions of which are to be emulated, circuitry for storing those commands, circuitry for generating new commands in response to the commands which are stored, and circuitry for generating output signals in response to the new commands which output signals replace the output signals produced by the input/output devices on an ISA bus.
Inventors
- 👤 Curtis Priem
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/10; G06F13/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
Apparatus utilizing input/output devices on a local bus which input/output devices are unable to utilize legacy bus DMA devices for data transfer to emulate input/output operations which are intended for legacy devices on a legacy bus in a computer system comprising: an input/output device adapted to be joined to a local bus, means for detecting commands addressed to an input/output device and to a DMA device both of which are adapted to be joined to a legacy bus, means for translating detected commands to an input/output device which is adapted to be joined to a legacy bus to commands for operating the input/output device adapted to be joined to a local bus, wherein the means for translating detected commands comprises means for storing detected commands, and state machine means for translating stored commands to commands for operating the input/output device adapted to be joined to a local bus, wherein the state machine means comprises a first state machine for transferring commands, and a plurality of state machine each adapted to translate commands stored for a particular input/output device which is adapted to be joined to a legacy bus, and DMA means for transferring data to input/output devices on a local bus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
Apparatus utilizing input/output devices on a local bus which input/output devices are unable to utilize legacy bus DMA devices for data transfer to emulate input/output operations which are intended for legacy devices on a legacy bus in a computer system comprising: an input/output device adapted to be joined to a local bus, means for detecting commands addressed to an input/output device and to a DMA device both of which are adapted to be joined to a legacy bus, means for translating detected commands to an input/output device which is adapted to be joined to a legacy bus to commands for operating the input/output device adapted to be joined to a local bus, wherein the means for translating detected commands comprises means for storing detected commands, and state machine means for translating stored commands to commands for operating the input/output device adapted to be joined to a local bus, wherein the state machine means comprises a first state machine for transferring commands, and a plurality of state machine each adapted to translate commands stored for a particular input/output device which is adapted to be joined to a legacy bus, and DMA means for transferring data to input/output devices on a local bus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for detecting commands addressed to an input/output device which is adapted to be joined to a legacy bus comprises a circuit decoding addresses of commands to an input/output device which is adapted to be joined to a legacy bus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which one of the plurality of state machines is adapted to translate commands for an FM synthesis sound circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which one of the plurality of state machines is adapted to translate commands for a graphics control circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which one of the plurality of state machines is adapted to translate commands for a basic ISA sound circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which one of the plurality of state machines is adapted to translate commands for a wave table sound circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the means storing detected commands comprises memory means storing commands directed to a basic ISA sound circuit, and means storing commands directed to an ISA DMA circuit; in which the state machine means for translating stored commands to commands for operating the input/output device adapted to be joined to a local bus comprises means for translating basic ISA sound commands to commands for operating an advanced sound circuit adapted to be joined to a local bus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the means storing detected commands further comprises memory means storing commands directed to an ISA DMA circuit; and in which the DMA means for transferring data to input/output devices on a local bus transfers data under control of commands provided by the state machine means in response to commands stored by the memory means storing commands directed to an ISA DMA circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the state machine means for translating stored commands to commands for operating the input/output device adapted to be joined to a local bus comprises means for controlling an address and a count of data provided by an ISA DMA controller in response to commands directed to the ISA DMA circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the state machine means for translating stored commands to commands for operating the input/output device adapted to be joined to a local bus comprises means for disabling the function of a system interrupt controller for providing a hardware end of interrupt (EOI) signal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
213 words
A method of utilizing input/output devices on a local bus which input/output devices are unable to utilize legacy bus DMA devices for data transfer to emulate input/output operations which are intended for devices on a legacy bus in a computer system comprising the steps of: detecting commands addressed to an input/output device and to a DMA device both of which are adapted to be joined to a legacy bus, translating detected commands to an input/output device which is adapted to be joined to a legacy bus to commands for operating the input/output device adapted to be joined to a local bus, wherein the step of translating detected commands comprises the step of storing detected commands, and translating stored commands to commands for operating the input/output device adapted to be joined to a local bus, wherein the step of translating stored commands comprises the steps of utilizing a first state machine for transferring commands, and a plurality of state machine each adapted to translate commands stored for a particular input/output device which is adapted to be joined to a legacy bus, utilizing DMA means for transferring data to input/output devices on a local bus, and operating the input/output devices on a local bus to emulate input/output operations which are commanded by the detected commands.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
213 words
A method of utilizing input/output devices on a local bus which input/output devices are unable to utilize legacy bus DMA devices for data transfer to emulate input/output operations which are intended for devices on a legacy bus in a computer system comprising the steps of: detecting commands addressed to an input/output device and to a DMA device both of which are adapted to be joined to a legacy bus, translating detected commands to an input/output device which is adapted to be joined to a legacy bus to commands for operating the input/output device adapted to be joined to a local bus, wherein the step of translating detected commands comprises the step of storing detected commands, and translating stored commands to commands for operating the input/output device adapted to be joined to a local bus, wherein the step of translating stored commands comprises the steps of utilizing a first state machine for transferring commands, and a plurality of state machine each adapted to translate commands stored for a particular input/output device which is adapted to be joined to a legacy bus, utilizing DMA means for transferring data to input/output devices on a local bus, and operating the input/output devices on a local bus to emulate input/output operations which are commanded by the detected commands.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the step of detecting commands addressed to an input/output device which is adapted to be joined to a legacy bus comprises decoding addresses of commands to an input/output device which is adapted to be joined to a legacy bus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the step of translating stored commands to commands for operating the input/output device adapted to be joined to a local bus comprises the step of translating commands for an FM synthesis sound circuit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the step of translating stored commands to commands for operating the input/output device adapted to be joined to a local bus comprises the step of translating commands for a wave table sound circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the step of translating stored commands to commands for operating the input/output device adapted to be joined to a local bus comprises the step of translating commands for a basic ISA sound circuit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the step of translating stored commands to commands for operating the input/output device adapted to be joined to a local bus comprises the step of translating commands for a graphics control circuit.
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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) | 2000-10-20 | 2001-04-21 | 2001-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-20 | 2005-04-21 | 2005-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-20 | 2009-04-21 | 2009-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |