Power management of DMA slaves with DMA traps

Details Power management of DMA slaves with DMA traps Power management of DMA slaves with DMA traps

1996-01-11

1997-04-08

Auve, Glenn A.

395750, 395735, G06F 1300

Patent

active

056197292

ABSTRACT:
A device and method for power management of direct memory access ("DMA") slaves through DMA traps. The device comprises a plurality of registers coupled with conventional logic in order to generate a control signal for disabling direct memory access transfer requests for a powered-off DMA slave until the slave is re-powered. The method for managing power comprises steps of unmasking bits in a register containing information regarding which DMA slaves have been powered-off. Next, the DMA Controller consults a power management macro ("PMM") to determine whether a DMA transfer request involves a powered-off DMA slave. If not, the DMA transfer continues. However, if the DMA transfer does involve a powered-off DMA slave, then a main software application in operation is temporarily halted and the PMM generates a SMI signal and outputs the SMI signal to the central processing unit ("CPU") while keeping the disable control signal asserted, which effectively disables the DMA channel. The SMI signal invokes a software service routine which re-powers the powered-off DMA slave so that the main software application can continue.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4528626 (1985-07-01), Dean et al.
patent: 4716523 (1987-12-01), Burrus, Jr. et al.
patent: 5041964 (1991-08-01), Cole et al.
patent: 5185877 (1993-02-01), Bissett et al.
patent: 5313642 (1994-05-01), Seigel
patent: 5408668 (1995-04-01), Tornai

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Power management of DMA slaves with DMA traps does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Power management of DMA slaves with DMA traps, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Power management of DMA slaves with DMA traps will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2403501