Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Patent
1997-12-17
2000-03-21
Lintz, Paul R.
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
711110, 711109, 710 52, G06F 1730
Patent
active
06041328&
ABSTRACT:
The present invention keeps track of available elements in a list of elements available to a given device for processing from an index and count mechanism. Such an index and count mechanism provides an index that indicates a starting element in the list of elements that is available to the given device for processing. Such an index and count mechanism also provides a count that indicates a subsequent number of elements, from the starting element in the list of elements, that are available to the given device for processing. A first index register and a second index register alternately keep track of a last available element in the list of elements available to be processed by the given device until the last available element is a very last element in the list of elements. In addition, the first index register and the second index register also alternately keep track of a current element, in the list of elements, that is currently being processed by the given device until the very last element in the list of elements has been processed by the given device. By thus alternating between the first and second index registers for keeping track of the last available element and by thus alternating between the first and second index registers for keeping track of the currently processed element, processing through multiple cycles of the list of elements may be kept track of in a simple manner. The present invention may be used to particular advantage when the given device is a computer network peripheral device that processes descriptors within a shared memory of a host computer system.
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Advanced Micro Devices , Inc.
Choi Monica H.
Coby Frantz
Lintz Paul R.
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