Patent ID: 8037254
Filing Date: 2011-10-11
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A memory controller for coupling a memory to a network comprising: a first interface for connecting the memory controller to the network, the first interface being arranged for receiving and transmitting data streams; and a streaming memory unit coupled to the first interface for controlling the data streams between the network and the memory, said streaming memory unit comprises a buffer for temporarily storing at least part of the data streams, and a buffer managing unit for managing a temporary storing of the data streams in the buffer in a first and second operation mode; wherein in the first operation mode, data from the data streams to be stored in the memory are temporarily stored in the buffer until a portion of the buffer is occupied; wherein in the second operation mode, after the portion of the buffer is occupied, the buffer managing unit divides the buffer into a pre-fetch buffer for buffering pre-fetched data from the memory and a write-back buffer for buffering data to be written back to the memory.