Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Input/output data processing – Direct memory accessing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-08
2001-05-15
Shin, Christopher B. (Department: 2182)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Input/output data processing
Direct memory accessing
C710S005000, C710S027000, C710S033000, C710S120000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233628
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to computer systems, and more particularly the invention relates to data transfer between a host computer and a peripheral memory device.
FIG. 1
illustrates a conventional computer system in which a host computer
10
is connected to peripheral devices through bus
12
. The peripheral devices can include an I/O controller
14
, a printer
16
, and a memory device
18
such as a CD ROM. In transferring data from a CD ROM, the host computer
10
employs a procedure defined by the memory supplier in accessing the memory and establishing the transfer and control routine. Heretofore, the peripheral responds to data requests by retrieving the data from the medium, performing associated error correction and other tasks, and then temporarily storing the data in a buffer
20
within the peripheral. The data is then transferred over the bus to the host computer
10
at a later time when the bus becomes available for data transfer.
Thus, in prior art systems, a single command is sent to the CD ROM device and all processing associated with that command is performed in the device itself. This is an inefficient use of resources given that the host system typically has far greater processing and memory bandwidth. This increases the complexity and expense of the memory device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, the processing capability and memory of the host computer system is employed in data transfers to and from a peripheral device such as a CD ROM and associated processing thereby reducing the processing and memory requirements of the peripheral and thus reducing the expense of the device.
In implementing the invention, a plurality of pipes or channels are established in the bus by packets, time division, frequency division, code division or other known techniques. The host computer can then issue commands to the peripheral in one pipe, for example, and receive or transfer data in one or more other pipes dedicated to data transfer. Status information can be provided in still another pipe. Importantly, the peripheral device does not require a buffer for temporary storage of transferred data but rather can immediately transfer the data to the host computer for storage in buffers available to the host and process of the data using the host computer. The host computer establishes the transfer protocol and maintains control of the data transfer through registers in a bus controller.
The invention and objects and features thereof will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims when taken with the drawings.
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Olson Steven E.
Salmonsen Dan
Zhou Ning (Eric)
Oak Technology, Inc.
Shin Christopher B.
Townsend and Townsend / and Crew LLP
Woodward Henry K.
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