Multiple agent use of a multi-ported shared memory
US6401176B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 17, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 4, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 17, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/1663
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A multiple agent system providing each of a plurality of agents, i.e., processors, access to a shared synchronous memory. A super agent is preferably that agent from among a plurality of agents which accesses a shared synchronous memory most frequently. The super agent has direct access to the shared synchronous memory, without negotiation and/or arbitration, while the non-super agents access the shared synchronous memory under the control of an arbiter and switch. Open windows are generated when the super agent is not accessing the shared synchronous memory. The non-super agents can be allowed interim access to the shared synchronous memory even before the super agent terminates ownership of the shared synchronous memory. In another aspect of the present invention, subsequent memory access request signals from an agent to the shared synchronous memory are suppressed for a minimum refractory period until a previously received acknowledge signal is cleared to prevent erroneous detection of memory access granted.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.