Patent ID: 6167465
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of accessing a memory in a computer system, the computer system including a system bus controller in communication with the memory, the method comprising:providing a peripheral device coupled to the computer system, whereby the peripheral device is in communication with the system bus controller;establishing a plurality of direct memory access connections between the memory and the peripheral device by way of the system bus controller, each of the plurality of direct memory access connections having a priority and including one or more direct memory access requests, wherein the peripheral device retrieves a block of data located in the memory through a selected direct memory access connection;performing real-time operations on the block of data;buffering the block of data in a selected one of a plurality of buffer memories, each of the plurality of buffer memories having a capacity, wherein the plurality of buffer memories is associated with the plurality of direct memory access connections;monitoring a level of the capacity of the selected buffer memory that is occupied;determining if the level of the capacity of the selected buffer memory has reached a predetermined level;queuing a first direct memory access request associated with the selected direct memory access connection;queuing a second direct memory access request associated with a second direct memory access connection of the plurality of direct memory access connections; andprioritizing the first and second direct memory access requests based upon the priorities of the first and second direct access connections and designating a highest priority direct memory access request.