Granted Patent B1

US 7,062,767 · App. 09/654,718 · Granted Jun 13, 2006

Abstract

Claims (79)

1. A method for scheduling communication between a plurality of components in an integrated circuit (IC) coupled to at least one communication medium and at least one scheduling processor comprising the steps of:

initiating a transfer by said at least one scheduling processor sending a transfer command to a first IC component;

transferring data from said first IC component to a second IC component over said at least one communication medium;

said second IC component notifying a third IC component upon completion of said transferring data step;

wherein said transfer command to said first IC component identifies said second and said third IC components.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

initiating another transfer by said at least one scheduling processor sending a transfer command to a fourth IC component;

transferring data from said fourth IC component to a fifth IC component;

said fifth IC component notifying a sixth IC component upon completion of said transferring data step;

wherein said transfer command to said fourth IC component identifies said fifth and said sixth IC components.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said components include a microprocessor and said method further comprises the step of:

said microprocessor executing program code.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

said at least one scheduling processor deciding an order to perform said transfers; and

creating a chained sequence of said transfers.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

said at least one scheduling processor deciding an order to perform said transfers; and

creating a chained sequence of said transfers.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said transfer command is communicated over a first medium; and

said transferring step is performed over a second medium.

7. A method of controlling system operation between a plurality of components in an integrated circuit (IC) coupled to at least one communication medium and at least one scheduler comprising the steps of:

said scheduler sending a first command to a first IC component to transfer data over said at least one communication medium;

said at least one scheduler sending a second command to a second IC component to transfer data over said at least one communication medium;

notifying said second IC component upon completion of said first command;

initiating execution of said second command upon completion of said notifying step.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said sending a first command and said sending a second command step can occur in any order.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said method further comprises the step of:

said at least one scheduler deciding an order to send said first command and said second command and creating a chained sequence of transfers.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said at least one scheduler includes a microprocessor and said method further comprises the step of:

said microprocessor executing a program.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein:

said step of sending a first command is communicated over a first medium; and

said step of sending a second command is communicated over a second medium.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of:

transferring data from said first IC component over a first medium; and

wherein said step of sending a first command is communicated over a second medium.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein:

said step of sending a first command is communicated over a first medium; and

said step of sending a second command is communicated over a second medium.

14. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

transferring data from said first IC component over a first medium; and

wherein said step of sending a first command is communicated over a second medium.

15. A method of controlling system operation between a plurality of components in an integrated circuit (IC) coupled to at least one communication medium and at least one scheduler comprising the steps of:

receiving a first command from said scheduler by a first IC component to transfer data over said at least one communication medium;

receiving a second command from said scheduler by a second IC component to transfer data over said at least one communication medium;

performing said first command;

notifying said second IC component upon completion of said performing step; and

initiating said second command upon completion of said notifying step.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said receiving a first command, said receiving a second command, and said performing steps can occur in any order.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

sending said first command by said at least one scheduler; and

sending said second command by said at least one scheduler.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said at least one scheduler includes a microprocessor and said method further comprises the step of:

said microprocessor executing a program.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein:

said first command is communicated over a first medium; and

said step of performing said first command is performed over a second medium.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein:

said first command is communicated over a first medium; and

said step of performing said first command is performed over a second medium.

21. A method of controlling a system including a plurality of components in an integrated circuit (IC) coupled to at least one communication medium and at least one scheduler comprising the steps of:

said at least one scheduler receiving transfer requests from requesting IC components;

said at least one scheduler constructing a transfer command for each of said transfer requests;

said at least one scheduler sending said transfer commands to said requesting IC components;

wherein said transfer command further comprises;

(a) a destination address identifying a destination component; and

(b) a notification address identifying an acknowledge component.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said at least one scheduler includes a microprocessor and said method further comprises the step of:

said microprocessor executing program code.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising the steps of:

said at least one scheduling processor deciding an order to perform said transfers; and

creating a chained sequence of said transfers.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of:

transferring data from said requesting IC components over a first medium; and

wherein said step of sending said transfer commands is performed over a plurality of second medium.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of:

transferring data from said requesting IC components over a first medium; and

wherein said step of sending said transfer commands is performed over a plurality of second mediums.

Assignments (8)