Method and apparatus for reducing buffer storage in a read-modify-write operation
US5235693A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 14, 1990 |
| Grant date | Aug 10, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 14, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F11/1056
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for a read-modify-write operation in a digital computer memory system that reduces memory data path buffer storage requirements. The method latches new write data and associated mask fields into a data output buffer and then uses the latched mask fields to merge read data with the new data in the output buffer. The mask fields determine which portion of the read data is to be replaced with new data. Appropriate check bits for an error correction code (ECC) are generated and added to the modified data in the output buffer to produce a new data output which is released from the output buffer into the memory at the selected address.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.