Data Transfer Manager Circuit for Autonomous DMA Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current integrated circuit DMA systems lack efficient mechanisms for coordinating data transfers between peripheral devices without processor intervention, leading to suboptimal performance and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a DMA controller coupled with a data transfer management (DTM) circuit that generates master DMA requests based on state-driven configurations, allowing for autonomous data packet assembly and transfer operations, enabling reduced processor involvement and power conservation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the processor directly manages data transfers between peripheral devices, then data transfer control is simple and direct, but the processor cannot perform other operations and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data transfer management function from the processor by introducing a dedicated DMA controller and DTM circuit. The DMA controller handles data packet assembly and transfer coordination, while the processor can focus on other computational tasks, thereby reducing processor power consumption during data transfers.
Solution Approach 2:
The DTM circuit acts as an intermediary between the processor and DMA controller. It receives configuration from the processor, generates appropriate DMA requests, and coordinates the assembly of data packets from multiple peripherals, enabling autonomous data transfer operations without continuous processor involvement.
2Reliability
If the processor is involved in each read and write operation, then data transfer accuracy is ensured, but the processor cannot perform other various operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transfer function into distinct components: the DMA controller handles the actual data movement and packet assembly, while the DTM circuit manages the coordination and request generation. This segmentation allows the processor to ensure accuracy through initial configuration while delegating repetitive transfer operations to specialized circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The DMA controller and DTM circuit are designed to autonomously manage data transfer operations. The DTM circuit automatically generates DMA requests based on peripheral needs, and the DMA controller independently assembles and transfers data packets, ensuring reliable operation without requiring continuous processor intervention for each transfer.
3Productivity
If a DMA controller is used to move data without processor involvement, then processor availability improves, but coordination of multiple peripheral circuits becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The DTM circuit serves as an intelligent intermediary that simplifies the interface between multiple peripherals and the DMA controller. It receives configuration parameters from the processor, translates them into coordinated DMA requests, and manages the assembly of data packets from multiple sources, thereby reducing the apparent complexity for the processor while enabling sophisticated multi-peripheral coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed relating to a system that implements direct memory access (DMA). In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed that includes a dedicated data transfer management (DTM) circuit. The DTM circuit is configured to provide commands to a direct memory access (DMA) controller coupled to a bus to facilitate the DMA controller retrieving portions of a data object to be transmitted to a peripheral circuit via the bus. In some embodiments, the DTM is configured to assemble a data packet having a payload supplied by a processor, where the DTM circuit is configured to assemble the data packet by generating direct memory access (DMA) requests for the DMA controller. In such an embodiment, the DMA requests cause a plurality of peripheral circuits coupled to the bus to transfer portions of the data packet over the bus.