Multiple pipeline memory controller for servicing real time data

Claim 2

A memory controller for servicing real time data comprising: at least a first input port for receiving a real time request signal in a pipeline fashion; at least a second input port for receiving a non-real time request signal in a pipe line fashion; first pipeline processor, operatively coupled to the first input port, to separately process the real time request signal in a pipeline fashion wherein the first pipeline processor is a dual stage pipeline processor with a first stage addressing unit having addressing logic with first memory row/column address determination logic and first memory page fault detection logic; second pipeline processor, operatively coupled to the second input port, to separately process the non-real time request signal in a pipeline fashion; and wherein the first and second pipeline processors include an arbitrator to selectively determine which of the real time and non-real time request signals is to be output to memory.

Claim 3

The memory controller of claim 1 wherein the second pipeline processor includes a dual stage pipeline processor with first stage addressing unit having addressing logic having second memory row/column address determination logic and second memory page fault detection logic.

Claim 4

The memory controller of claim 1 wherein the arbitrator serves as a common final stage for the first and second pipeline processors.

Claim 5

The memory controller of claim 3 wherein the arbitrator includes memory cycle generation circuitry for controlling timing to access the memory.

Claim 6

The memory controller of claim 1 having a plurality of second input ports for receiving non-real time data, and further comprising priority based arbitration logic, operatively coupled between the plurality of second input ports and the second pipeline processor, for receiving a plurality of non-real time input data signals and for determining which of the non real time data signals is processed next by the second pipeline processor.

Claim 7

The memory controller of claim 5 wherein the arbitrator includes priority based arbitration logic, operatively coupled to a multiplexer, for controlling the multiplexer to output a selected signal to be output to memory.

Claim 8

The memory controller of claim 1 wherein the controller is integrated circuitry operatively used as a section of a video graphics controller for computers.

Claim 9

The memory controller of claim 1 wherein the real time request signal is a video request signal.

Claim 10

The memory controller of claim 8 wherein the real time request signal is a computer display control signal.

Claim 11

The memory controller of claim 1 wherein the non-real time request signal is a request signal from a central processing unit.

Claim 12

The memory controller of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second pipeline processors has a two stage pipeline process comprised of an address determination stage and an output stage.

Claim 13

The memory controller of claim 11 wherein the first pipeline processor facilitates an extrinsic memory access latency period of seven memory clock cycles for the real time input signal.

Claim 14

A memory controller for servicing real time data comprising: at least a first and second input port for receiving first and second real time input signals in a pipeline fashion; a plurality of input ports for receiving a plurality of non-real time input signals in a pipeline fashion; first pipeline processor, operatively coupled to the first input port, to separately process the real time request signal in a pipeline fashion; second pipeline processor, operatively coupled to the second input port, to separately process the non-real time request signal in a pipeline fashion; first priority based arbitration logic, connected to receive the plurality of non-real time input signals from the plurality of input ports, for selecting one of the non-real time input signals based on a priority determination and outputting a selected non-real time input signal; third pipeline processor, operatively coupled to receive the selected non-real time input signal from the priority based arbitration logic, to separately process the selected non-real time input signal in a pipeline fashion; and wherein the first, second and third pipeline processors include second priority based arbitration logic as a final stage for selectively determining which of the real time and non-real time input signals is to be output to memory.

Claim 15

A memory controller for servicing real time data comprising: at least a first and second input port for receiving first and second real time input signals in a pipeline fashion; a plurality of input ports for receiving a plurality of non-real time input signals in a pipeline fashion; first pipeline processor, operatively coupled to the first input port, to separately process the real time request signal in a pipeline fashion; second pipeline processor, operatively coupled to the second input port, to separately process the non-real time request signal in a pipeline fashion; first priority based arbitration logic, connected to receive the plurality of non-real time input signals from the plurality of input ports, for selecting one of the non-real time input signals based on a priority determination and outputting a selected non-real time input signal; third pipeline processor, operatively coupled to receive the selected non-real time input signal from the priority based arbitration logic, to separately process the selected non-real time input signal in a pipeline fashion; and wherein the first, second and third pipeline processors include second priority based arbitration logic as a final stage for selectively determining which of the real time and non-real time input signals is to be output to memory.

Claim 16

The memory controller of claim 13 wherein the controller is integrated circuitry incorporated in a video graphics controller chip for computers.

Claim 17

The memory controller of claim 13 wherein each of the first, second and third pipeline processors are comprised of dedicated addressing units having first memory row/column address determination logic and first memory page fault detection logic.

Claim 18

The memory controller of claim 15 wherein the second priority based arbitration means is comprised of priority based arbitration logic, operatively coupled between the addressing logic of the first, second and third processors and the output port, for receiving at least one non-real time input data signal and a plurality of real time input data signals and for selectively determining a priority between the real time and non-real time input signals to be output to memory via the output port.

Claim 19

The memory controller of claim 14 wherein the controller is used in a video graphics card insertable into a computer slot.

Claim 20

The memory controller of claim 13 wherein the second priority based arbitration logic serves as a final stage for the first, second and third pipeline processors.

Claim 21

The memory controller of claim 18 wherein the second priority based arbitration means includes memory cycle generation circuitry for controlling timing to access the memory.

Claim 22

The memory controller of claim 13 wherein one of the real time input signals is a video request signal and another is a display request signal.

Claim 23

The memory controller of claim 13 wherein the first and second pipeline processors each facilitate an extrinsic memory access latency period of seven memory clock cycles for respective real time input signals.