Patent ID: 7480784
Filing Date: 2009-01-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: transmitting memory requests sourced by one or more input/output (I/O) devices to a memory in one or more first virtual channels; and transmitting memory requests sourced by an I/O memory management unit (IOMMU) to the memory in at least a second virtual channel separate from the first virtual channels, wherein the IOMMU is configured to implement address translation and memory protection for the memory requests sourced by the I/O devices, and wherein at least a portion of a physical transmission medium from the IOMMU to the memory and from the I/O devices to the memory is shared by the I/O devices and the IOMMU, and wherein transmission of the memory requests sourced by the I/O devices in the one or more first virtual channels and the memory requests sourced by the IOMMU in the second virtual channel ensures that the memory requests sourced by the IOMMU are not blocked by the memory requests sourced by the I/O devices and that the memory requests sourced by the I/O devices are not blocked by the memory requests sourced by the IOMMU.