Multiple bus master computer system employing a shared address translation unit
US5913923A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 6, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jun 22, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 6, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F12/1081
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A multiple bus master computer system employs an interface to a central processor allowing external bus masters to query the central processor with addresses and to receive back translated addresses. A first preferred embodiment employs two signals namely: translation request and translation address strobe to request/acknowledge the request for translation. The translation request is maintained asserted by one of the alternative bus masters until the central processor acknowledges it--at which time the alternative bus master drives an address (for example a virtual address) onto the address bus for translation. The central processor then translates the virtual address to its corresponding physical address (doing any page table walking or page faulting) and drives this physical address out on the address lines and asserts another translation address strobe. If a page fault occurs, the central processor communicates to the alternative bus master to release the translation request until the central processor performs a table walk. After page fault recovery, the central processor communicates to the alternative bus master to reassert the translation request so that the translation may …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.