System for writing a data value at a starting address to a number of consecutive locations equal to a segment length identifier
US6415338B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 10, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jul 2, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 10, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/28
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is directed to an improved direct memory access (DMA) controller for executing commands having an improved instruction set. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a DMA controller is provided having an enhance command set. Specifically, a DMA controller is provided having the ability to perform a memory fill command. Thus, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for controlling a DMA controller to execute a memory fill command, wherein the method obtains a starting address, a segment length identifier, and a data value. Preferably, this information is obtained by reading successive bytes from external memory. The method then writes the data value to a plurality of consecutive locations in the memory, beginning at the starting address, wherein the number of consecutive locations written to is equal to the segment length identifier. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for controlling a DMA controller to execute a memory fill command, wherein the method obtains a starting address, an ending address, and a data value. As described above, this information is preferably obtained by re…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.