Importance

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Abstract

An intermediate data buffer for prefetching data from main memory and supplying it to a processing element and taking results from the processing element and outputting them to main memory is disclosed. The apparatus, referred to as a windowed programmable data buffer (WPDB), is a programmable, one-port or two-port circular data buffer that can simultaneously input data from or output results to main memory and output data to or input results from a processing element. The transfer of data between the WPDB and main memory is separated from the transfer of data between the WPDB and the processing element by means of a window. The transfers with the main memory use the locations outside the window and the transfers with the processing element use the locations inside of the window. The window may be programmed to increment forward around the circular buffer or remain stationary. The WPDB can operate in two modes. One mode uses offsets sent by the processing element to access data within the window. The other uses offsets programmed into the WPDB to access the window. The latter allows the WPDB to anticipate the data to be read next so that the data can be prefetched and buffered through a FIFO buffer. Data being written to the WPDB can be buffered through a second FIFO buffer.

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First Claim