Method for SMI arbitration timeliness in a cooperative...

Details Method for SMI arbitration timeliness in a cooperative... Method for SMI arbitration timeliness in a cooperative...

2005-12-27

2005-12-27

Auve, Glenn A. (Department: 2111)

Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/

Intrasystem connection

Bus access regulation

C710S044000, C710S046000, C710S047000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06981081

ABSTRACT:
A Bus Driver implements an arbitration mechanism to allow both the system management interrupt (SMI) and the Bus Driver to cooperatively use a Bus host controller hardware. This mechanism employs a hardware-based semaphore (status bit) to allow either the SMI or the driver to claim ownership of the Bus host controller for an arbitrary period of time. While either the SMI or the driver may own the status bit, the other party must poll the bit until ownership is achieved. For the SMI, this involves scheduling a periodic SMI interrupt. The driver performs self arbitration of claiming the status bit to provide the periodic SMI interrupt the opportunity to claim the bit. The mechanism allows the SMI access to the Bus host controller in a “timely” manner, while minimizing impact to driver access to the Bus host controller, which could impact driver Bus transaction throughput.

REFERENCES:
patent: 6125450 (2000-09-01), Kardach
patent: 2003/0063071 (2003-04-01), Wyatt
patent: 2003/0188066 (2003-10-01), Kwatra et al.
patent: 2004/0054834 (2004-03-01), Devins et al.
patent: 2004/0098527 (2004-05-01), Kwatra et al.

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