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:
Feb. 10, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 04, 1994
Andre Szczepanek, Bedford, GB;
Denis R Beaudoin, Missouri City, TX (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A communications network adapter of the type coupling a computer, in which the computer includes a microprocessor, main memory and a system bus, that controls host interrupts in a manner to improve system performance. The adapter includes a buffer memory for storing data to be transferred between the bus an the network, and a transfer controller that controls the transfer of data between the main memory and the buffer memory and between the network and the buffer memory. The adapter also includes an interrupt controller that monitors predetermined events relating to data transfer between the computer and the network, and that causes the sending of interrupt signals to the microprocessor. Interrupt signals cause the microprocessor to initiate processing associated with the transfer of data between the computer and the network. According to one aspect of the invention the adapter includes an interrupt pacing timer that prevents the sending of interrupts to the microprocessor from the adapter for predetermined time after an interrupt acknowledgement signal is received from the microprocessor. According to another aspect of the invention an interrupt threshold counter is provided that prevents the sending of interrupts to the microprocessor until a predetermined plurality of frames are transmitted.