Hierarchical memory arbitration technique for disparate sources

US8645639B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• ATI Technologies ULC · CA
• Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Guhan Krishnan · Chelmsford, US
• Antonio Asaro · Scarborough, CA
• Don Cherepacha · Oakville, CA
• Thomas Kunjan · Dresden, DE
• Joerg Winkler · Ullersdorf, DE
• Ralf Flemming · Baiersbronn, DE
• Maurice B. Steinman · Marlborough, US
• Jonathan Owen · Marlborough, US
• John Kalamatianos · Boxborough, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 31, 2012
• Grant date: Feb 4, 2014
• Expiry date: Aug 31, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F13/161
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A hierarchical memory request stream arbitration technique merges coherent memory request streams from multiple memory request sources and arbitrates the merged coherent memory request stream with requests from a non-coherent memory request stream. In at least one embodiment of the invention, a method of generating a merged memory request stream from a plurality of memory request streams includes merging coherent memory requests into a first serial memory request stream. The method includes selecting, by a memory controller circuit, a memory request for placement in the merged memory request stream from at least the first serial memory request stream and a merged non-coherent request stream. The merged non-coherent memory request stream is based on an indicator of a previous memory request selected for placement in the merged memory request stream.