Memory configuration with I/O support
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a method for configuring a memory with I/O support. The aim of the invention is to guarantee the processor and I/O functional units that function in time-critical conditions the appropriate priority for data access, using simple programs. To this end, an input memory area which the I/O unit can only write into and which the processor unit can only read out of and an output memory area which the I/O unit can only read out of and which the processor unit can only write into are specified in the processor.
1. A processor arrangement comprising:
a processor having a data port for reading and writing data;
an input/output unit having a data port for reading and writing data; and
a processor memory having a first and a second data port, wherein said processor data port is connected to said first processor memory data port and said input/output unit data port is connected to said second processor memory data port,
wherein the processor memory is configured to have an input memory area and an output memory area, and wherein the processor arrangement is configured so that:
writing data from said input/output unit is exclusively to the input memory area of said processor memory under exclusive address control of said input/output unit;
reading data from said processor memory to said processor is exclusively from said input memory area of said processor memory under exclusive address control of said processor;
wherein writing data from said processor is exclusively to said output memory area of said processor memory under exclusive address control of said processor; and
wherein reading data from said processor memory to said input/output unit exclusively from said output memory area under exclusive address control of said input/output unit.
2. A processor arrangement as specified in claim 1 wherein said processor memory includes a first address port connected to an address port of said processor, wherein said first processor memory data port comprises a read/write port connected to said processor data port comprising a read write port, wherein said processor memory includes a second address port connected to an address port of said input/output unit and wherein said second processor memory data port comprises a read/write port connected to said input/output unit data port comprising a read/write port, and wherein said processor address port is responsive to a processor address generator and wherein said input/output unit address port is responsive to an input/output unit address generator.
3. A processor arrangement as specified in claim 2 wherein said processor includes a block length port coupled to said processor address generator and wherein said input/output unit includes a block length port coupled to said input/output unit address generator.
4. A processor arrangement as specified in claim 1 wherein said processor memory includes a first FIFO memory arranged for FIFO transfer of data from said processor to said input/output unit and a second FIFO memory arranged for FIFO transfer of data from said input/output unit to said processor.
5. In a processor arrangement including a processor, a processor memory and an input/output unit, a method for input and output of data, comprising:
providing in said processor memory an input memory area and an output memory area;
writing data from said input/output unit exclusively to the input memory area of said processor memory under exclusive address control of said input/output unit;
reading data from said processor memory to said processor exclusively from said input memory area of said processor memory under exclusive address control of said processor;
writing data from said processor exclusively to said output memory area of said processor memory under exclusive address control of said processor; and
reading data from said processor memory to said input/output unit exclusively from said output memory area under exclusive address control of said input/output unit.
6. A method as specified in claim 5 wherein reading and writing to and from said processor memory by said input/output unit and said processor are implemented independently.
7. A method as specified in claim 6 , wherein said processor memory is organized with a line length, and wherein said reading and writing by said processor and said input/output unit are implemented in data blocks having a block length corresponding to said line length.