Structure and method of performing DMA transfers between memory and I/O devices utilizing a single DMA controller within a notebook and docking station computer system

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 5875312
SERIAL NO

08758803

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Abstract

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A computer system (6,7) includes first and second I/O circuits (932, 934, 51, 97), first and second buses (904, 83) respectively coupled to the first and second I/O circuits (932, 934, 51, 97), a memory (106), a third bus (104) coupled to the memory (106), and first and second bus interface circuits (902, 6920) connected between the third bus (104) and the first and second buses (904, 83) respectively. A direct memory access (DMA) controller (910) is coupled to the first bus (904) and to the first bus interface circuit (902), and a serial communications circuit (7010, 6910, 7020) is connected between the DMA controller (910) and the second bus interface circuit (6920). As an example, in the present invention a single DMA controller may be used to provide DMA capability to both a notebook computer and a docking station, using an interface between the notebook computer and the docking station to transfer DMA related information between the DMA controller and a requesting device in the docking station. Other devices, systems and methods are also disclosed.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDDALLAS TX

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Bridgwater, James Lanark, GB6 9 325
Haijima, Kazumi Chiba, JP 3 216
Joe, Joseph Plano, TX 6 310
Milhaupt, Robert W Houston, TX 11 376
Walsh, James J Plano, TX 38 1267

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