Hypertransport data path protocol
US7117308B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 6, 2004 |
| Grant date | Oct 3, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 6, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/387
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A data path protocol eliminates most of the conventional read transactions required to transfer data between devices interconnected by a split transaction bus, such as a HyperTransport (HPT) bus. To that end, each device is configured to manage its own set of buffer descriptors, unlike previous data path protocols in which only one device managed all the buffer descriptors. As such, neither device has to perform a read transaction to retrieve a “free” buffer descriptor from the other device. As a result, only write transactions are performed for transferring descriptors across the HPT bus, thereby decreasing the amount of traffic over the bus and eliminating conventional latencies associated with read transactions. In addition, because descriptors are separately managed in each device, the data path protocol also conserves processing bandwidth that is traditionally consumed by managing ownership of the buffer descriptors within a single device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.