Patent ID: 6092171
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A system for managing data in a peripheral device, said device being responsive to a host computer, the system comprising:a processing means for receiving said data from said host computer and for processing said data;a memory means coupled with said processing means for receiving said data from such processing means and for storing said data, said memory means comprising a plurality of storage locations, said memory means receiving a physical address corresponding to one storage location of said plurality of storage locations, said memory means storing said data at a storage location corresponding to said physical address;a memory management unit for controlling communication of said data between said processing means and said memory means, said memory management unit being coupled with said processing means and with said memory means, said memory management unit receiving a virtual address from said processing means, determining said physical address from said virtual address, and providing said physical address to said memory means; anda compression means for reading said data stored in a first predetermined number of said plurality of storage locations, compressing said data to produce compressed data, and storing said compressed data in a second predetermined number of said plurality of storage locations, said second predetermined number being less than said first predetermined number;said memory management unit determining an amount of said data stored within said memory means and generating a compression signal when said amount exceeds a predetermined threshold;said compression means responding to said compression signal to compress said data.