US5872941A — Providing data from a bridge to a requesting devi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 127 words

A computer system comprising: a data storage device on a first data bus, a requesting device that places, on a second data bus, an initial request directed to the data storage device and that relinquishes control of the second data bus while awaiting a response to the initial request, and a bridge device connecting the data buses that, in response to the initial request, places a subsequent request on the first data bus and receives from the first data bus data responsive to the initial request, wherein the bridge device is configured to begin providing data to the requesting device when the requesting device regains control of the second data bus, even while the data storage device still is providing the requested data to the bridge device.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 127 words

A computer system comprising: a data storage device on a first data bus, a requesting device that places, on a second data bus, an initial request directed to the data storage device and that relinquishes control of the second data bus while awaiting a response to the initial request, and a bridge device connecting the data buses that, in response to the initial request, places a subsequent request on the first data bus and receives from the first data bus data responsive to the initial request, wherein the bridge device is configured to begin providing data to the requesting device when the requesting device regains control of the second data bus, even while the data storage device still is providing the requested data to the bridge device.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

The system of claim 1 further comprising a bus arbiter that assigns the requesting device a higher arbitration priority to regain control of the second data bus when the data storage device begins providing the requested data to the bridge.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the requesting device maintains the higher priority until the data storage device stops providing data to the bridge.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system of claim 1 wherein, when the data storage device begins providing the requested data to the bridge device, the bridge device terminates a transaction initiated after the requesting device relinquishes control of the bus.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 4 wherein, after the transaction is terminated, the requesting device is assigned a higher arbitration priority to regain control of the second data bus.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the initial request from the requesting device comprises a memory read multiple request.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the second data bus comprises a PCI bus.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system of claim 1 wherein the bridge device comprises a PCI-to-PCI bridge.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 37 words

The computer system of claim 1 further comprising a controller that instructs the data storage device to continue providing data to the bridge device as long as the requesting device maintains control of the second data bus.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

The computer system of claim 1 wherein the data storage device continues to provide data to the bridge device until the bridge device instructs it to stop.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 119 words

A computer system comprising: a memory device on a first PCI bus, a PCI device that places on a second PCI bus an initial request directed to the memory device and that relinquishes control of the second PCI bus while awaiting a response to the initial request, and a PCI-to-PCI bridge connecting the PCI buses that, in response to the initial request, places a subsequent request on the first PCI bus and receives from the first PCI bus data responsive to the initial request, wherein the bridge begins delivering data to the PCI device when the PCI device regains control of the second PCI bus, even while the memory device still is providing the requested data to the bridge.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 119 words

A computer system comprising: a memory device on a first PCI bus, a PCI device that places on a second PCI bus an initial request directed to the memory device and that relinquishes control of the second PCI bus while awaiting a response to the initial request, and a PCI-to-PCI bridge connecting the PCI buses that, in response to the initial request, places a subsequent request on the first PCI bus and receives from the first PCI bus data responsive to the initial request, wherein the bridge begins delivering data to the PCI device when the PCI device regains control of the second PCI bus, even while the memory device still is providing the requested data to the bridge.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 11 wherein the bridge terminates a transaction running on the second PCI bus when the data storage device begins providing the requested data.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 39 words

The system of claim 11 further comprising a bus arbiter that assigns the PCI device a higher arbitration priority to regain control of the second PCI bus when the memory device begins providing the requested data to the bridge.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 11 wherein the initial request comprises a memory read multiple request.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 120 words

A method of providing data from a data storage device on a first data bus to a requesting device in response to an initial request placed on a second data bus by the requesting device, after which the requesting device relinquishes control of the second data bus while awaiting a response to the initial request, the method comprising: placing a subsequent request on the first data bus in response to the initial request and receiving from the first data bus data responsive to the initial request, and after the requesting device regains control of the second data bus, beginning to deliver the requested data to the requesting device while the requested data still is flowing from the data storage device.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 120 words

A method of providing data from a data storage device on a first data bus to a requesting device in response to an initial request placed on a second data bus by the requesting device, after which the requesting device relinquishes control of the second data bus while awaiting a response to the initial request, the method comprising: placing a subsequent request on the first data bus in response to the initial request and receiving from the first data bus data responsive to the initial request, and after the requesting device regains control of the second data bus, beginning to deliver the requested data to the requesting device while the requested data still is flowing from the data storage device.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 15 further comprising assigning the requesting device a higher arbitration priority to regain control of the second data bus when the requested data begins flowing from the data storage device.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 15 further comprising terminating a transaction that is occurring on the second data bus when the requested data begins flowing from the data storage device.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 17 further comprising assigning the requesting device a higher arbitration priority to regain control of the second data bus after the transaction is terminated.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 15 further comprising continuing to deliver data to the requesting device as long as the requesting device maintains control of the second data bus.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 129 words

A computer system comprising: a data storage device on a first data bus, a requesting device that places, on a second data bus, an initial request directed to the data storage device and that relinquishes control of the second data bus while awaiting a response to the initial request, and a bridge device connecting the data buses that, in response to the initial request, places on the first data bus a subsequent request and receives from the first data bus data responsive to the initial request, wherein the bridge device causes termination of a transaction on the second data bus to allow the requesting device to regain control of the second data bus while the data storage device still is providing the requested data to the first data bus.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 129 words

A computer system comprising: a data storage device on a first data bus, a requesting device that places, on a second data bus, an initial request directed to the data storage device and that relinquishes control of the second data bus while awaiting a response to the initial request, and a bridge device connecting the data buses that, in response to the initial request, places on the first data bus a subsequent request and receives from the first data bus data responsive to the initial request, wherein the bridge device causes termination of a transaction on the second data bus to allow the requesting device to regain control of the second data bus while the data storage device still is providing the requested data to the first data bus.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 20 further comprising a bus arbiter that assigns the requesting device a higher arbitration priority to regain control of the second data bus after the transaction is terminated.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 20 wherein the initial request comprises a memory read multiple request.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 20 wherein the second data bus comprises a PCI bus.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system of claim 20 wherein the bridge device comprises a PCI-to-PCI bridge.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 37 words

The computer system of claim 20 further comprising a controller that instructs the data storage device to continue providing data to the bridge device as long as the requesting device maintains control of the second data bus.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 137 words

A method of creating a flow of data directly from a data storage device on a first data bus in a computer system to a requesting device that places, on a second data bus, an initial request directed to the data storage device, the method comprising: forcing the requesting device to relinquish control of the second data bus after placing the initial request on the second data bus, in response to the initial request, establishing a flow of data from the data storage device toward the second data bus, and when the requesting device again requests control of the second data bus, granting the requesting device control of the second data bus to allow the requested data to begin flowing to the requesting device while the requested data is still flowing out of the data storage device.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 137 words

A method of creating a flow of data directly from a data storage device on a first data bus in a computer system to a requesting device that places, on a second data bus, an initial request directed to the data storage device, the method comprising: forcing the requesting device to relinquish control of the second data bus after placing the initial request on the second data bus, in response to the initial request, establishing a flow of data from the data storage device toward the second data bus, and when the requesting device again requests control of the second data bus, granting the requesting device control of the second data bus to allow the requested data to begin flowing to the requesting device while the requested data is still flowing out of the data storage device.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 26 further comprising terminating another transaction occurring on the second data bus when the requesting device again requests control of the second data bus.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 27 wherein the terminated transaction comprises a write transaction.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 27 wherein the terminated transaction comprises a posted write transaction.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 27 wherein the terminated transaction comprises a read transaction.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 26 further comprising, after establishing the data flow from the data storage device, assigning to the requesting device a bus arbitration priority higher than that of any other device seeking control of the second data bus.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 26 further comprising allowing data to continue to flow out of the data storage device toward the second data bus as long as the requesting device maintains control of the second data bus.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 32 wherein the data continues to flow even after all data originally requested by the requesting device has flowed out of the data storage device.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-02-15	2002-08-17	2003-02-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-02-15	2006-08-17	2007-02-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-02-15	2010-08-17	2011-02-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Providing data from a bridge to a requesting device while the bridge is receiving the data

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag