Mitsuaki Shiraga

6678749, Jan 13, 2004

Jun 28, 2001

09/896403

Praveen K. Kolli - Sunnyvale CA
Harry Chue - Alameda CA
Mitsuaki Shiraga - Saratoga CA

Sony Corporation - Tokyo
Sony Electronics Inc. - Park Ridge NJ

G06F 300

710 5, 710 18, 710 52, 712225

An apparatus and method for efficiently performing data transfer operations in an electronic system preferably includes a plurality of buffers that may store data and commands during execution of data transfer operations. Initially, at least a portion of a plurality of commands defining data transfer operations between a memory and peripheral devices may be temporarily stored in a command buffer associated with a processor interface. The processor interface may then issue commands directly to a memory interface, peripheral devices, and peripheral interfaces within the electronic system. Commands received by the memory interface may be temporarily stored in a command buffer associated with the memory interface. When a memory associated with the memory interface is ready, the memory interface may access the memory, and transfer data to or from one or more buffers associated with a peripheral device. Once the data is transferred to or from the buffers, then the memory interface may execute other commands stored in the command buffer.

20020169908, Nov 14, 2002

May 8, 2001

09/852098

Mitsuaki Shiraga - Saratoga CA, US

Sony Corporation

G06F012/00
G06F013/14
G06F013/38

710/240000

An apparatus and method for implementing a flexible arbitration mechanism in an electronic system may preferably include a plurality of command sources coupled to the electronic system for generating pending commands. An arbiter coupled to the electronic system may preferably reference a configurable arbitration table to choose a next table entry corresponding to a selected command from the pending commands for execution by the electronic system. The arbitration table may preferably include ordered entries that correspond to the pending commands. The arbiter may preferably reference the configurable arbitration table during a table analysis sequence to thereby identify the foregoing selected command. Configuration logic coupled to the electronic system may preferably perform a dynamic arbitration configuration procedure to advantageously reconfigure the arbitration table in response to a configuration request that may preferably be generated after a system CPU device reprograms an arbitration configuration register in the electronic system in response to software program instructions.