Multithreaded programmable direct memory access engine

US7870309B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Brian Flachs · Austin, US
• Harm Peter Hofstee · Austin, US
• Charles Ray Johns · Austin, US
• Matthew KING · Pflugerville, US
• John Liberty · Round Rock, US
• Brad W. Michael · Cedar Park, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 23, 2008
• Grant date: Jan 11, 2011
• Expiry date: Jul 2, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F13/28
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A mechanism programming a direct memory access engine operating as a multithreaded processor is provided. A plurality of programs is received from a host processor in a local memory associated with the direct memory access engine. A request is received in the direct memory access engine from the host processor indicating that the plurality of programs located in the local memory is to be executed. The direct memory access engine executes two or more of the plurality of programs without intervention by a host processor. As each of the two or more of the plurality of programs completes execution, the direct memory access engine sends a completion notification to the host processor that indicates that the program has completed execution.