International Business Machines Corporation

Vincent F Sollitto, Jr

Frederick J Aichelmann, Jr

Philip M Ryan

Russell W Lavallee

William Frederick Shutler

Frederick J Aichelman, Jr

A memory system for the transfer of a block of data, wherein the transfer of data can begin at a starting address anywhere within the block. The block is stored on two memory chips, each having multiple parallel outputs. The two chips are addressed by a common high order address bus and different low order address bus. The low order addresses are generated such that an ordered sequence of bits, beginning at the starting address, is transferred in parallel to the register from both chips, regardless of the starting address.

Memory structure for nonsequential storage of block bytes in multi bit

Memory structure for nonsequential storage of block bytes in multi-bit

A dual ported buffer memory for a hierarchical memory, cmprising an addressable memory array for multi-bit words and a multi-bit register. Data is transferred a word at a time between the memory array and a multi-bit bus to a higher level in the memory system and between the memory array and the register. Data is transferred a bit at a time between the register and a single serial line. Concurrent operations are possible for transfers between the memory array and the parallel bus and between the register and the serial line.

Intermediate memory array with a parallel port and a buffered serial port

A hierarchical memory system is disclosed comprising at least one dual-ported memory level, each port having access to a separate bidirectional data bus. The port facing the higher memory levels is equipped with a pair of data buffers having a bit width equal to the bit width of a single row of cells in the storage array contained within the dual-ported level. One buffer (output) is loaded in one cycle from the array. The outer buffer (input) is emptied in one cycle into the array. Both buffers interact with the higher memory level independently of the transferring of data through the other of the dual ports. Thus, contention for the use of bus facilities and contention for memory cycles are greatly reduced in the transferring of data between the memory levels.

Hierarchical memories having two ports at each subordinate memory level

A single error correcting memory is constructed from partially good components on the design assumption that the components are all-good. Those small number of logical lines containing double-bit errors are replaced when detected with good lines selected from a replacement area of the memory. The replacement area is provided by a flexibly dynamically deallocated portion of the main memory so that it can be selected from any section of the original memory by inserting the appropriate page address in the replacement-page register. With such a memory architecture until the first double-bit error is detected (either in testing or actual use) all pages may be used for normal data storage. When such an error is detected some temporarily unused page in the memory is deal-located, that is rendered unavailable for normal storage, and dedicated to providing substitute lines. The same procedure is followed for subsequent faults. If the replacement area itself becomes defective, a different page may be chosen to provide substitute lines simply by providing a different address in the replacement page register.

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Rhinebeck, NY, United States of America

Vincent F Sollitto, Jr