US6526462B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Programmable multi-tasking memory management system
Assignee: RealChip Inc
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Filing: 1999-11-19
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Granted: 2003-02-25
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Expires: 2019-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A highly intelligent programmable multi-tasking memory management system manages memory requests associated with a system on chip (SOC) device. The memory management system includes a routing controller or central processing unit (RCPU) that is used for routing/switching stream data between communication cores and digital signal processors with minimum reliance and demand on a main or virtual central processing unit (VCPU) residing on a system bus. Tasks are partitioned between the VCPU and the RCPU within the SOC architecture for communication applications. The VCPU performs system/application tasks while the RCPU simultaneously performs multiple memory routing/switching tasks and multiple concurrent memory access connections. The memory management system also enables other processors and communication cores to update their internal data once new data is written in the memory system. In addition, a method and system are provided for performing predictive protocol fetch for multiple DSPs on the SOC to increase data processing throughput.
Inventors
- 👤 Hammam Elabd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/50; G06F9/5005; G06F9/5011; G06F9/5016
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for performing multiple tasks simultaneously in a System On a Chip (SOC) device, comprising: processing system and application tasks using a first processor, the first processor being connected to a system bus and being adapted to receive system and applications requests from a plurality of communication cores; and processing memory management tasks using a memory management system having a second processor while processing system and application tasks are being performed, the memory management system being connected to the system bus and to the plurality of communications cores through dedicated memory buses, wherein the second processor is adapted to perform at least one of memory routing and switching tasks among the plurality of communication cores.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for performing multiple tasks simultaneously in a System On a Chip (SOC) device, comprising: processing system and application tasks using a first processor, the first processor being connected to a system bus and being adapted to receive system and applications requests from a plurality of communication cores; and processing memory management tasks using a memory management system having a second processor while processing system and application tasks are being performed, the memory management system being connected to the system bus and to the plurality of communications cores through dedicated memory buses, wherein the second processor is adapted to perform at least one of memory routing and switching tasks among the plurality of communication cores.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein processing the memory management tasks is software programmable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second processor is adapted to perform at least one of memory routing and switching tasks for multiple memory requests simultaneously.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising transmitting updated memory data from the second processor to the first processor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein processing memory management tasks includes: inputting memory requests from the plurality of communication cores to a request buffer; outputting the memory requests from the request buffer to a foreground request schedule and a background request schedule; queuing the memory requests in the foreground request schedule followed by queuing the memory requests in the background request schedule; and processing simultaneously a predetermined number of memory requests.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 5 , wherein the predetermined number of memory requests corresponds to the number of memory controllers in the memory management system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 5 , wherein the foreground requests correspond to requests residing in an SRAM buffer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
A memory management system for routing or switching stream data among a plurality of peripheral masters on a System on a Chip (SOC) device, the system comprising: a multiplexer for selecting a predetermined number of peripheral memory requests from the plurality of peripheral masters; a multi tasking arbiter and load balancing system coupled to the multiplexer and adapted to provide an arbitration, load balancing and scheduling scheme to the multiplexer; a bus bridge for receiving a system request from a system master; and a routing CPU coupled to the multiplexer and the bus bridge for processing both the peripheral memory requests and the system request.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
A memory management system for routing or switching stream data among a plurality of peripheral masters on a System on a Chip (SOC) device, the system comprising: a multiplexer for selecting a predetermined number of peripheral memory requests from the plurality of peripheral masters; a multi tasking arbiter and load balancing system coupled to the multiplexer and adapted to provide an arbitration, load balancing and scheduling scheme to the multiplexer; a bus bridge for receiving a system request from a system master; and a routing CPU coupled to the multiplexer and the bus bridge for processing both the peripheral memory requests and the system request.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 8 , wherein the arbitration, load balancing and scheduling scheme comprises one of a round robin, psuedo-random, priority, and fixed bandwidth assignment per master.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
63 words
A System On a Chip (SOC) device comprising: a virtual master for processing system and application tasks requested by a plurality of peripheral masters, the plurality of peripheral masters adapted to transmit memory requests associated with one or more memory banks; and a memory management system having a routing master for receiving and processing the memory requests from the plurality of peripheral masters.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
63 words
A System On a Chip (SOC) device comprising: a virtual master for processing system and application tasks requested by a plurality of peripheral masters, the plurality of peripheral masters adapted to transmit memory requests associated with one or more memory banks; and a memory management system having a routing master for receiving and processing the memory requests from the plurality of peripheral masters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The SOC device according to claim 10 , wherein the memory management system is software programmable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The SOC device according to claim 11 , wherein the memory management system is programmed to receive and process memory requests from a first predetermined number of peripheral masters.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The SOC device according to claim 12 , wherein the memory management system is reprogrammed to receive and process memory requests from a second predetermined number of peripheral masters different from the first predetermined number of peripheral masters.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The SOC device according to claim 10 , wherein the memory management system receives the memory requests from a plurality of dedicated memory buses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The SOC device according to claim 14 , wherein the plurality of dedicated memory buses connect the plurality of peripheral masters to-the routing master.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The SOC device according to claim 14 , wherein the plurality of dedicated memory buses comprise non-arbitrated buses.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The SOC device according to claim 14 , wherein the plurality of dedicated memory buses are used to decode memory addresses.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-02-24 | 2006-08-26 | 2007-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-02-24 | 2010-08-26 | 2011-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-02-24 | 2014-08-26 | 2015-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |