Patent ID: 6701404
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for transferring a variable sized loop word between a plurality of elements interposed within a serial loop, the method comprising:providing a plurality of elements available for participating in an application, wherein the elements are connected to a serial interconnect, wherein a subset of the elements participate in the application; connecting the subset of elements participating in the application together within a serial loop through the serial interconnect; transferring a sync character of the loop word from element to element of the subset of elements along the serial loop, the sync character indicative of the beginning of the loop word; transferring at least one present character of the loop word after the sync character from element to element of the subset of elements along the serial loop through the serial interconnect; asserting a present character at an element of the subset of elements to indicate that a data word follows the asserted present character in the loop word; putting the data word from the element on to the loop word after the asserted present character thereby increasing the size of the loop word; transferring the data word of the loop word from element to element of the subset of elements along the serial loop through the serial interconnect; removing the data word from the loop word at the element after the data word has been transferred along the serial loop through the serial interconnect back to the element thereby decreasing the size of the loop word; and de-asserting a present character of the loop word at the element after the element has removed the data word to indicate lack of a data word following the de-asserted present character in the loop word.