The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 18, 1997
Filed:
May. 02, 1995
Michael K Eneboe, San Jose, CA (US);
Kevin M Christiansen, Saratoga, CA (US);
Bruce E Eckstein, Cupertino, CA (US);
Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
The present invention is therefore directed to enhancing the efficiency with which input/output controllers execute operations in response to requests from another device, such as a main controller. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a compact set of status information signals is communicated from an input/output controller to a main controller such that the main controller can provide error control (that is, monitor input/output controller operation) without the use of interrupts. As a result, the main controller can sequentially and continuously supply multiple commands of a transaction to the input/output controller without the use of a multiple hardware interrupts. System hardware can therefore be used more efficiently and input/output controller operation can be accelerated, thereby increasing system performance.