Method for interfacing components of a computing system with a pair of unidirectional, point-to-point buses

• Main Authors: GRICE DONALD G, DALY, JR. GEORGE W, HELLER, JR. THOMAS K, TANKEH APPOLONIEL N, FIELDS, JR. JAMES S
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 14.07.2009
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; ELECTRICITY; PHYSICS; TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHICCOMMUNICATION

A method of interfacing two components of a computing system is provided wherein the method includes providing a pair of unidirectional, point-to-point buses to transmit data between a master bus controller of the computing system and a slave bus controller of a processor unit of the computing system. The method also includes providing means for transmitting a command packet with an address associated with data pertaining to the command from the master bus controller to the slave bus controller. In addition, the method includes providing means for determining by the slave bus controller whether the slave bus controller can accept the command. The method further includes providing means for transmitting an acknowledgement from the slave bus controller to the master bus controller after the slave bus controller receives a first signaling interval for the command packet if the slave bus controller can accept the command packet.