Replacing reset pin in buses while guaranteeing system recovery

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed that replace a separate reset pin in a bus with a reset command that guarantees a system recovery. The system comprises a host component circuitry residing on a first chip and a client component circuitry residing on a second, different chip. A bus connects the host component circuitry to the client component circuitry. The host component circuitry is configured to transfer an initial client value associated with a client component time period to the client component circuitry over the bus on a periodic time basis. The periodic time basis is dictated by a host component time period and the client component time period is greater than the host component time period. The client component circuitry is configured to initiate a reset procedure if the client component time period expires which indicates that the initial client value was not received at a next time on the periodic time basis dictated by the host component time period.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION[0001]The invention is generally related to the field of system and memory buses and more particularly to a system and method to replace a separate reset pin with a reset command without the necessity for the client component circuitry to monitor the control client component circuitry in order to ensure control of the system.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Microprocessor devices (“processors”) utilize external pins to interface with other components within a computer system. In present computer technology, as the complexity and processing power of microprocessors grow, the number of external pins required to interface the host microprocessor with the other components of the computer system also increases. Those other components include a plurality of separate devices such as processors, memories, and peripheral devices, interconnected by one or more buses. Decreasing the number of external pins decreases the cost of the microprocessor and / or the system and memory ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]Accordingly, the present invention provides a system and method for reducing the pin count of a microprocessor. Further, the present invention replaces a reset pin with a reset command without implying the necessity for the client component circuitry to monitor the control bus in order to ensure control of the system. These and other advantages of the present invention not specifically recited above will become apparent within discussions of the present invention herein.

Problems solved by technology

In present computer technology, as the complexity and processing power of microprocessors grow, the number of external pins required to interface the host microprocessor with the other components of the computer system also increases.

Decreasing the number of external pins decreases the cost of the microprocessor and / or the system and memory buses as well as decreases the cost and complexity of the interface circuitry.

The reset signal typically requires a separate reset pin which reduces pin efficiency because it is rarely used and therefore does not contribute to increasing the data flow through the pins on the system and memory buses.

However, this is not the case, because if the client does not honor a reset command from the host, the system can remain in an un-deterministic state.

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