Apparatus and method for abstract memory addressing
View Patent ↗An apparatus for abstract memory addressing. A processor for generating an abstract memory address. A base register for storing a base memory address. An adder for adding the base memory address to the abstract memory address and generating a physical address for a device memory. A pointer register for storing the physical address, wherein the pointer register is directly coupled to the device memory.
1. An apparatus for abstract memory addressing comprising:
a processor for generating an abstract memory address;
a base register for storing a base memory address;
a first adder for adding the base memory address to the abstract memory address and generating a physical address for a device memory;
a pointer register for storing the physical address, wherein the pointer register is coupled to the device memory; and
a second adder coupled to the processor, the base register and the pointer register, the second adder for subtracting the base memory address from the physical address and generating the abstract memory address.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an address validation system coupled to an address bus and the processor and for receiving the physical address and generating a signal if the physical address is not a valid physical address.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a trace buffer for receiving the signal from the address validation system and storing a predetermined number of register entries.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base register comprises a plurality of base registers and the base register is directly coupled to the processor, the first adder and a second adder.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pointer register comprises a plurality of pointer registers, and the pointer register is directly coupled to the first adder and the second adder.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base register comprises a plurality of base registers and the pointer register comprises a plurality of pointer registers.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the pointer register comprises:
an address section for storing the physical address; and
an index section for storing an index, wherein the index identifies one of the plurality of base registers.
8. A method for abstract memory addressing comprising:
generating an abstract memory address using a processor;
storing a base memory address in a base register;
adding the base memory address to the abstract memory address with an adder and generating a physical address for a device memory;
storing the physical address in a pointer register, wherein the pointer register is coupled to the device memory; and
subtracting the base memory address from the physical address with an adder that is directly coupled to the processor, the base register and the pointer register and generating the abstract memory address.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising receiving the physical address and generating an address invalid signal if the physical address is not a valid physical address.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving the address invalid signal and storing a predetermined number of register entries.
11. The method of claim 8 comprising storing a plurality of base addresses in a plurality of base registers.
12. The method of claim 8 comprising storing a plurality of physical addresses in a plurality of pointer registers.
13. The method of claim 8 comprising:
storing plurality of base addresses in a plurality of base registers; and
storing a plurality of physical addresses in a plurality of pointer registers.
14. The method of claim 13 storing the plurality of physical addresses in the plurality of pointer registers comprises:
storing one of the physical addresses in an address section of each pointer register; and
storing an index in an index section of each pointer register, wherein the index identifies one of the plurality of base registers.
15. An apparatus for abstract memory addressing comprising:
a processor configured to generate an abstract memory address;
a base register configured to store a base memory address;
a first adder configured to add the base memory address to the abstract memory address and generate a physical address for a device memory;
a second adder configured to subtract the base memory address from the physical address and generate the abstract memory address; and
a plurality of pointer registers configured to store the physical address, wherein each pointer register is directly coupled to a device memory, the first adder and the second adder.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the second adder is coupled to the processor, the base register and the pointer register.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising an address validation system configured to receive the physical address and generate a signal if the physical address is not a valid physical address.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a trace buffer coupled to receive the signal from the address validation system and configured to store a predetermined number of register entries.
19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the base register comprises a plurality of base registers and the base register is directly coupled to the processor, the first adder and the second adder.
20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein one of the plurality of pointer registers comprises:
an address section configured to store the physical address; and
an index section configured to store an index, wherein the index identifies one of the plurality of base registers.