Recursive multi-channel interface

Abstract

A multi-channel recursive interface having independent channels that can be used in, for example, multi-level memory systems is disclosed. Separate read and write command channels and read and write completion channels permit concurrent read and write operations. A memory system according to the present invention uses a write buffer to resolve read data ambiguity when concurrently reading and writing into the same memory location. With independent and asynchronous read and write channels, the interface of the present invention retains its properties even if separated from the system it interfaces by communication channels exhibiting any latency such as first in first out (FIFO) registers of arbitrary lengths. Such FIFOs can improve the throughput of the communication channels between the interface and the system it interfaces with. The recursive interface can flexibly serve many levels of memory.