DMA Transfer Between Independent Host and Remote Computers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies fail to enable Direct Memory Access (DMA) data transfer between a host computer and a remote computer, each equipped with independent CPUs and memories, as they cannot access each other's memory.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a host computer with a device driver and a remote computer connected through a network, where a first DMA transfer is initiated based on a DMA request, and a second DMA transfer occurs between the memories of the host and remote computers, with the transfer destination address detected through error handling and page table management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If DMA transfer is executed between host computer and remote computer with independent memories, then data transfer efficiency is improved, but memory access capability between independent computers is worsened (cannot access each other's memory)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bus extension unit as an intermediary component that bridges the memory systems of the host computer and remote computer. This mediator enables DMA transfers by providing a communication pathway between otherwise isolated memory spaces, allowing efficient data transfer without direct memory access capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the bus architecture from a single-computer dimension to a multi-computer dimension by introducing bus extension units that operate across network connections. This dimensional extension allows DMA-like efficient transfers between independent computers while maintaining their memory independence.
2Length of stationary object
If bus extension is used to extend distance between CPU and device, then physical distance is improved, but DMA execution capability is worsened (cannot execute DMA between independent computers)
Solution Approach 1:
The bus extension unit serves as a mediator that maintains DMA functionality across extended physical distances. It translates and forwards DMA requests between the host computer's bus and the remote computer's bus, enabling DMA operations to succeed despite the physical separation and network intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
To realize DMA data transfer between a host computer and another computer even in the case that the host computer and the another computer are each equipped with a CPU, a memory, and so forth independently. A computer communicably connected with a first computer including a first memory and a driver for controlling a device, the computer comprising: the device; and a second memory, wherein a first DMA transfer is executed based on a DMA transfer request received from the driver, a second DMA transfer is executed to transfer data existing at a transfer destination address of the first DMA transfer between the first memory and the second memory, and the transfer destination address is detected as a result of executing the first DMA transfer.