Input interface for a raster object memory in a method, system and program
View Patent ↗A memory system is enabled to access data for multiple objects in an interleaved fashion. Object data is retrieved from a system bus via an input interface, is temporarily stored in a limited data memory of the memory system and object headers are stored in a header memory. Each object to be printed has an object header and may, or may not, have associated object data. A “skip” function is provided to terminate a transfer function if object data is not ready. The memory system is enabled to retrieve all data in an object or cancel the object before the endo f data is reached. An identifier is associated with each data object and is subsequently reused after the original data object is transferred or cancelled. A plurality of request levels are assigned each data request to indicate the urgency of a data request, enabling multiple memory systems to operate from a single data transfer function.
1. A method for transferring data, comprising the steps of:
receiving a request, having a request level, for a transfer of one or more data objects, said data objects each having an identifier;
checking computer memory for said data objects;
sending a skip signal to a memory system if said data objects do not exist in computer memory;
transferring existing said requested data to said memory system; and
reusing said identifier with a different data object.
2. A method for transferring data, comprising the steps of:
receiving a request, having a request level, for a transfer of one or more data objects, said data objects each having an identifier;
checking computer memory for said data objects;
sending a skip signal to a memory system if said data objects do not exist in computer memory;
transferring existing said requested data to said memory system;
activating a PCIVALID signal to send data to said memory system;
continuing to send said data as long as said PCIVALID signal is active; and
deactivating said PCIVALID signal as long to complete a data transfer cycle.
3. A method for transferring data, comprising the steps of:
receiving a request, having a request level, for a transfer of one or more data objects, said data objects each having an identifier;
checking computer memory for said data objects;
sending a skip signal to a memory system if said data objects do not exist in computer memory;
transferring existing said requested data to said memory system;
assigning a request level to said data object retrieval wherein said request level represents the degree of urgency of said data object request; and
fulfilling said data object request according to said request level.
4. A method for transferring data comprising the steps of:
receiving a request, having a request level, for a transfer of one or more data objects, said data objects each having an identifier;
checking computer memory for said data objects;
sending a skip signal to a memory system if said data objects do not exist in computer memory;
transferring existing said requested data to said memory system;
enabling multiple said memory systems to operate from a single PCI function; and
preventing lockout of each said memory system from said PCI function.
5. A method for transferring data, comprising the steps of:
receiving a request, having a request level for a transfer of one or more data objects, said data objects each having an identifier;
checking computer memory for said data objects;
sending a skip signal to a memory system if said data objects do not exist in computer memory;
transferring existing said requested data to said memory system;
responsive to a user's request, canceling said data object;
discarding all unretrieved data;
sending a data object cancel signal to said PCI function; and
releasing said identifier for reuse.
6. A system for transferring data, comprising:
means for receiving a request, having a request level, for a transfer of one or more data objects, said data objects ac having an identifier;
inspection means for checking computer memory for said data objects;
transmission means for sending a skip signal to said memory if said data object do not exist in computer memory;
transfer means for transferring existing said requested data to a memory system; and
logic means for reusing said identifier with a different data object.
7. A system for transferring data, comprising:
means for receiving a request, having a request level, for a transfer of one or more data objects, said data objects each having an identifier;
inspection means for checking computer memory for said data objects;
transmission means for sending a skip signal to said memory if said data objects do not exist in computer memory;
transfer means for transferring existing said requested data to a memory system;
means for activating a PCIVALID sigal to send data to said memory system;
means for continuing to send said data as long as said PCIVALID signal is active; and
means for deactivating said PCIVALID signal to complete a data transfer cycle.
8. A system for transferring data, comprising:
means for receiving a requested, having a request level, for a transfer of one or more data objects, said data objects each having an identifier;
inspection means for checking computer memory for said data objects;
transmission means for sending a skip signal to said memory if said data objects do not exist in computer memory;
transfer means for transferring existing said requested data to a memory system means for assigning a request level to said data object retrieval wherein said request level represents the degree of urgency of said data object request; and
data transfer means for fulfilling said data object request according to said request level.
9. A system for transferring data, comprising:
means for receiving a request, having a request level, for a transfer of one or more data objects, said data objects each having an identifier;
inspection means for checking computer memory for said data objects;
transmission means for sending a skip signal to said memory if said data objects do not exist in computer memory;
transfer means for transferring existing said requested data to a memory system;
a plurality of request levels for enabling multiple said memory systems to operate from a single PCI function; and
said request levels for preventing lockout of each said memory system from said PCI function.
10. A system for transferring data, comprising:
means for receiving a request, having a request level, for a transfer of one or more objects, said data objects each having an identifier;
inspection means for checking computer memory for said data objects;
transmission means for sending a skip signal to said memory if said data objects do not exist in computer memory;
transfer means for transferring existing said requested data to a memory system;
means for canceling said data object responsive to a user's request;
cancellation means for discarding all unretrieved data;
signaling means for sending a data object cancel signal to said PCI function; and
means for releasing said identifier for reuse.
11. A computer program product within a computer readable medium having instructions to cause logic circuitry to perform the steps of:
receiving a request, having a request level, for a transfer of one or more data objects, said data objects each having an identifier;
checking computer memory for said data objects;
sending a skip signal to said memory if said data objects do not exist in computer memory;
transferring existing said requested data to a memory system;
storing any said object data into said memory system reusing said identifier with a different data object; and
reusing said identifier with a different data object.
12. The computer program product of claim 11 , further comprising instructions to cause logic circuitry to perform the steps of:
activating a PCIVALID signal to send data to said memory system;
continuing to send said data as long as said PCIVALID signal is active; and
deactivating said PCIVALID signal to complete a data transfer cycle.
13. A computer program product within a computer readable medium having instructions to cause logic circuitry to perform the steps of:
receiving a request, having a request level, for a transfer of one or more data objects, said data objects each having an identifier;
checking computer memory for said data objects;
sending a skip signal to said memory if said data objects do not exist in computer memory;
transferring existing said requested data to a memory system;
storing any said object data into said memory system;
assigning a request level to said data object retrieval wherein said request level represents the degree of urgency of said data object request; and
fulfilling said data objects according to said request level.
14. A computer program product within a computer readable medium having instructions to cause logic circuitry to perform the steps of:
receiving a request, having a request level, for a transfer of one or more data objects, said data objects each having an identifier;
checking computer memory for said data objects;
sending a skip signal to said memory if said data objects do not exist in computer memory;
transferring existing said requested data to a memory system;
storing any said object data into said memory system;
enabling multiple said memory systems to operate from a single PCI function; and
preventing lockout of each said memory system from said PCI function.
15. The computer program product of claim 14 , further comprising instructions to cause logic circuitry to preform the steps of:
canceling said data object in response to a user's request;
discarding all unretrieved data;
sending a data object cancel signal to said PCI function; and
releasing said identifier for reuse.