Efficient message processing using a multi-ported RAM and a dedicated microcontroller
US5881228A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 29, 1996 |
| Grant date | Mar 9, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 29, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2012/4028
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A communication subsystem used in an aircraft entertainment system employs a microcontroller and a dual-ported RAM to relieve burden from the host processor in handling low-level operations in communicating with external devices. The host processor and the microcontroller accesses the dual-ported RAM by testing the semaphore to determine if the DPRAM is available. If available, the processor and/or the microcontroller will read/write the messages from/to the DPRAM as appropriate. The microcontroller controls the communication interface controllers directly and will send messages read from the DPRAM to the CICs or write to the DPRAM messages received from the CICs without host processor's intervention. The microcontroller also performs other low-level operations such as header/trailer processing and error checking/correcting free from the host processor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.