CA2277981A1 - Shared memory control using multiple linked lists with pointers, status flags, memory block counters and parity - Google Patents
Shared memory control using multiple linked lists with pointers, status flags, memory block counters and parity Download PDFInfo
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- CA2277981A1 CA2277981A1 CA002277981A CA2277981A CA2277981A1 CA 2277981 A1 CA2277981 A1 CA 2277981A1 CA 002277981 A CA002277981 A CA 002277981A CA 2277981 A CA2277981 A CA 2277981A CA 2277981 A1 CA2277981 A1 CA 2277981A1
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- 230000015654 memory Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 111
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 238000013500 data storage Methods 0.000 claims 25
- 238000007726 management method Methods 0.000 claims 13
- 150000001768 cations Chemical class 0.000 claims 1
- 239000000872 buffer Substances 0.000 description 19
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 8
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 241001481828 Glyptocephalus cynoglossus Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000009421 Myristica fragrans Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003139 buffering effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000001115 mace Substances 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04Q—SELECTING
- H04Q11/00—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems
- H04Q11/04—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems for time-division multiplexing
- H04Q11/0428—Integrated services digital network, i.e. systems for transmission of different types of digitised signals, e.g. speech, data, telecentral, television signals
- H04Q11/0478—Provisions for broadband connections
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F12/00—Accessing, addressing or allocating within memory systems or architectures
- G06F12/02—Addressing or allocation; Relocation
- G06F12/0223—User address space allocation, e.g. contiguous or non contiguous base addressing
- G06F12/023—Free address space management
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F5/00—Methods or arrangements for data conversion without changing the order or content of the data handled
- G06F5/06—Methods or arrangements for data conversion without changing the order or content of the data handled for changing the speed of data flow, i.e. speed regularising or timing, e.g. delay lines, FIFO buffers; over- or underrun control therefor
- G06F5/065—Partitioned buffers, e.g. allowing multiple independent queues, bidirectional FIFO's
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F2205/00—Indexing scheme relating to group G06F5/00; Methods or arrangements for data conversion without changing the order or content of the data handled
- G06F2205/06—Indexing scheme relating to groups G06F5/06 - G06F5/16
- G06F2205/064—Linked list, i.e. structure using pointers, e.g. allowing non-contiguous address segments in one logical buffer or dynamic buffer space allocation
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/54—Store-and-forward switching systems
- H04L12/56—Packet switching systems
- H04L12/5601—Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
- H04L2012/5678—Traffic aspects, e.g. arbitration, load balancing, smoothing, buffer management
- H04L2012/5681—Buffer or queue management
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for allocating shared memory utilizing linked lists (LLs) use a management RAM which controls the flow of data to/from a shared memory (RAM), and stores information regarding a number of LLs and a free link list (FLL) in the RAM, and a block pointer to unused RAM locations. A head pointer (HP), tail pointer (TP), block counter and empty flag (EF) are stored for each data link list. The HP and TP each include a block pointer and a position counter. The block counter contains the number of blocks used in the particular queue. An EF indicates an empty queue. The FLL includes a HP, a block counter, and an EF. Each page of RAM receiving the incoming data includes locations for storing data. The last location of the last page in a block stores a next-block pointer plus parity information, and in the last block of a queue, is set to all ones. An independent agent used in the background monitors the integrity of the LL structure.
Description
SHARED MEMORY CONTROL USING MULTIPLE LINKED LISTS WITH POINTERS, STATUS FLAGS, MEMORY
BLOCK COUNTERS AND PARITY
This application is related to co-owned U.S. Serial No.
08/650,910, filed May 17, 1996, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to memory management. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods of managing a plux-ality of data queues stored in linked lists in a shared common memory. The invention has particular application to the u.se of a very large scale integrated circuit (VLSI) for the buffering of telecommunications information such as ATM data, although it i.s not limited thereto.
BLOCK COUNTERS AND PARITY
This application is related to co-owned U.S. Serial No.
08/650,910, filed May 17, 1996, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to memory management. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods of managing a plux-ality of data queues stored in linked lists in a shared common memory. The invention has particular application to the u.se of a very large scale integrated circuit (VLSI) for the buffering of telecommunications information such as ATM data, although it i.s not limited thereto.
2. State of the Art In high speed communication networks, the management of buffer resources is one mechanism of increasing network performance.
One group of methods of managing buffer resources is known as sharing, where a single RP,M is simultaneously utilized as a buffer by a plurality of different channels. Various sharing methods are known (see Vela:muri, R. et al., "A Multi-Queue Flexible Buffer Manager Architecture", TFFF Document No. 0-7803-0917-0/93) and each has inherent advantages coupled with inherent disadvantages in terms of blocking probability, utilization, throughput, and delay. What is common to all sharing methods, however, is that a mechanism is required to direct data into appropriate locations in the RAM in a desired order so that the data can be retrieved from, the RAM appropriately. One such mechanism which is well known is the use of link lists which are used to manage multiple queues sharing a common memory buffer.
Typically, a link list com,p:rises bytes of data, where each byte has at least one pointer (forward and/or backward) attached to it, thereby identifying the location of the next byte of data in the queue. The link list typically includes extensive initialization and self-check procedures which are carried out by a microprocessor on a non-real-time basis. Thus, the use of standard prior art link list structures to manage multiplex queues sharing a common memory is not readily adaptable for VLSI
implementation, and is likewise not particularly suited to the handling of very high speed telecommunications information where processing and handling are dictated by the data rate of the real-time telecommunications signal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for control of memory allocation.
It is another object of the invention to provide a new link list structure for managing queues in a shared memory.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a single VLSI which utilizes a link list structure for managing queues of high speed real time data in a shared memory.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a link list apparatus and method for controlling the flow of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) telecommunications data into and out of a shared buffer.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method for VLSI control of ATM data into and out of a shared RAM
by utilizing a separate RAM containing information related to the plurality of link lists in the shared RAM.
In accord with the objects of the invention a management RAM
contained within a VLSI is provided for controlling the flow of data into and out of a shared memory (data RAM). The management R.AM is preferably structured as an x by y bit RAM which stores information regarding y-2 data link lists in the shared RAM, a free link list in the shared RAM, and a block pointer to unused shared RAM locations. Information stored in the x bits for each data link list includes a head pointer, a tail pointer, a block counter and an empt_~ flag. In a preferred embodiment particularly applic<~ble to the control of ATM data, the head and tail pointers are each composed of a block pointer and a position counter, with the position counter indicating a specific page in a block which is mace up of: a set of contiguous pages of memory, and the block pointE~r pointing to the block number. Regardless of how constituted, the head pointer contains the address of the first word of the f_Lrst memory page of the link list, and the tail pointer preferably contains the address of the first word of the last memory page in they link list. The block counter contains the number of blocks used in the particular queue, and has a non-zero value if at. least one page is used in the queue.
The empty flag indicates whether the queue is empty such that the content of the link list should be ignored if the queue-empty flag indicates that the qne~ue is empty.
Information stored in the management RAM for the free link list includes a head pointer, a block counter, and an empty flag, but does not need to include a tail pointer as free blocks are added to the top of the free list according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. ~~s is discussed below in more detail, as data from different channels is directed into blocks of the data RAM, a link list is kept for each channel. As data is read out of the data RAM, blocks become available to receive new data. It is these freed blocks yahich are added to the free list. Block space can be assigned from the i=ree list before or after the unused blocks (discussed bE:low) are used.
To avoid excessive initia:Lization requirements, an unused-block pointer is provided in thE~ management RAM, as discussed above, and provides a pointer to the next unused block in memory.
Initially all link 7_ists, including the free list, are empty, and the unused block pointer is set to the number of blocks in the memory. As data is written to a block of shared RAM memory, the unused block pointer is decremented. When the unused block pointer equals zero, all of the cell blocks are included in the link lists (including the free link list).
One group of methods of managing buffer resources is known as sharing, where a single RP,M is simultaneously utilized as a buffer by a plurality of different channels. Various sharing methods are known (see Vela:muri, R. et al., "A Multi-Queue Flexible Buffer Manager Architecture", TFFF Document No. 0-7803-0917-0/93) and each has inherent advantages coupled with inherent disadvantages in terms of blocking probability, utilization, throughput, and delay. What is common to all sharing methods, however, is that a mechanism is required to direct data into appropriate locations in the RAM in a desired order so that the data can be retrieved from, the RAM appropriately. One such mechanism which is well known is the use of link lists which are used to manage multiple queues sharing a common memory buffer.
Typically, a link list com,p:rises bytes of data, where each byte has at least one pointer (forward and/or backward) attached to it, thereby identifying the location of the next byte of data in the queue. The link list typically includes extensive initialization and self-check procedures which are carried out by a microprocessor on a non-real-time basis. Thus, the use of standard prior art link list structures to manage multiplex queues sharing a common memory is not readily adaptable for VLSI
implementation, and is likewise not particularly suited to the handling of very high speed telecommunications information where processing and handling are dictated by the data rate of the real-time telecommunications signal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for control of memory allocation.
It is another object of the invention to provide a new link list structure for managing queues in a shared memory.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a single VLSI which utilizes a link list structure for managing queues of high speed real time data in a shared memory.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a link list apparatus and method for controlling the flow of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) telecommunications data into and out of a shared buffer.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method for VLSI control of ATM data into and out of a shared RAM
by utilizing a separate RAM containing information related to the plurality of link lists in the shared RAM.
In accord with the objects of the invention a management RAM
contained within a VLSI is provided for controlling the flow of data into and out of a shared memory (data RAM). The management R.AM is preferably structured as an x by y bit RAM which stores information regarding y-2 data link lists in the shared RAM, a free link list in the shared RAM, and a block pointer to unused shared RAM locations. Information stored in the x bits for each data link list includes a head pointer, a tail pointer, a block counter and an empt_~ flag. In a preferred embodiment particularly applic<~ble to the control of ATM data, the head and tail pointers are each composed of a block pointer and a position counter, with the position counter indicating a specific page in a block which is mace up of: a set of contiguous pages of memory, and the block pointE~r pointing to the block number. Regardless of how constituted, the head pointer contains the address of the first word of the f_Lrst memory page of the link list, and the tail pointer preferably contains the address of the first word of the last memory page in they link list. The block counter contains the number of blocks used in the particular queue, and has a non-zero value if at. least one page is used in the queue.
The empty flag indicates whether the queue is empty such that the content of the link list should be ignored if the queue-empty flag indicates that the qne~ue is empty.
Information stored in the management RAM for the free link list includes a head pointer, a block counter, and an empty flag, but does not need to include a tail pointer as free blocks are added to the top of the free list according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. ~~s is discussed below in more detail, as data from different channels is directed into blocks of the data RAM, a link list is kept for each channel. As data is read out of the data RAM, blocks become available to receive new data. It is these freed blocks yahich are added to the free list. Block space can be assigned from the i=ree list before or after the unused blocks (discussed bE:low) are used.
To avoid excessive initia:Lization requirements, an unused-block pointer is provided in thE~ management RAM, as discussed above, and provides a pointer to the next unused block in memory.
Initially all link 7_ists, including the free list, are empty, and the unused block pointer is set to the number of blocks in the memory. As data is written to a block of shared RAM memory, the unused block pointer is decremented. When the unused block pointer equals zero, all of the cell blocks are included in the link lists (including the free link list).
According to a preferred aspect of the invention, each memory page of the shared data RAM receiving the incoming data (which RAM is managed by the management RAM) is composed of M contiguous memory addresses. Depending on the memory type, each address location can be of size B bits. The most common sizes are eight bits (byte), sixteen bits (word), thirty-two bits, and sixty-four bits. The first M-1 locations in the page are used to store data.
The last (M'th) location of the last page in the block preferably is used to store the address of the first location of the next block of the queue plus an odd parity bit; i.e., the M'th location of the last page in the block stores a next block pointer plus parity information. If there are no more blocks in the queue, the M'th location in the last page is set to all ones.
According to another aspect of the invention, an independent agent is utilized in the background to monitor the integrity of the.link list structure. The independent agent monitors the sum of the count of all of the link list block counters plus the unused blocks to ensure that it equals the total number of memory blocks in the common RAM. If not, an error is declared.
Likewise, the independent agent checks each link list stored in the management RAM for the following error conditions: head and tail pointers are equal and the block counter is not of value one; head and tail pointers are different and the block counter is one; and, block counter equals zero. If desired, the independent agent can also monitor the block pointers stored in the M'th location of the last page of each block to determine parity errors and/or to determine errors using parity or CRC.
Using the methods and apparatus of the invention, four operations are defined for ATM cell management: cell write, cell read, queue clear, and link list monitoring. In the cell write operation, a cell is stored into a queue. More particularly, when an ATM cell is received at a port w so that it is to be stored in queue number n (which stores cells of priority v for port w), a determination is first made as to whether the queue is empty. If it is not empty, the queue status (i.e., the tail pointer and position counter stored in management RAM) is obtained, and a det~erminat:ion is made as to whether a new block will be needed to b~~ added to the queue. If a new block is not required, the cell is written to the location indicated by the tail pointer posit ion, and the tail pointer position counter for that queue in the management RAM is updated. If this is the last page of a block, the M'th location of the page (in the shared memory) is set to all ones.. If a new block is required, either because the queue w~3s empty or because a previous cell had been written into the laat page of a block, a block must be obtained.
If it is a first black of a queue, initial queue parameters are stored. If it is not the first block of the link list, a block is obtained from thc~ free 7_ist and the free list is updated; or the block is obtaincsd from the unused blocks and the block pointer for the unu:~ed blocks is updated. Then, the cell is written to the queue, and t:he tail pointer, position counter, and block counter for the queuEa are all updated in the management RAM.
The cell read operation is utilized where a cell is to be read from a queue. In the cel:1 read operation, the cell indicated by the head pointer and head pointer position counter for that queue is read from the quEsue. ~~f:ter reading the cell from the queue a determination is made as to whether the cell was either the last cell in a block and!or thE~ last cell in the queue. If it is neither, then the queue si_atus is updated (i.e., the head pointer position counter is changed), and another cell read operation is awaited. If the ce:L1 is i~he last cell in the block, then the queue status prefer<~bly is checked for correctness by verifying the parity of the painter (using a parity bit), and is updated by changing the head pointer and head pointer position counter. The free list is updated by adding the freed block to the head of the free list, and the :Free l:i~;t and link list block counters are updated. If the ce_L1 is the last cell in the queue, the procedure for the list ce:Ll. in the block is followed, and the queue empty flag is set.
The queue clear operation is a microprocessor command provided for the purpose of clearing a queue. When the queue clear operation is presented, the queue status is updated by setting the queue flag, and the blocks in the queue are added to the head of the free list which is likewise updated.
The link list monitoring operation is the agent which monitors the integrity of the link list structure whenever the cell write, cell read, and queue clear operations are not running. As set forth above, the link list monitoring operation monitors the linked lists for errors by checking that the sum of the count of all of the link list block counters plus the unused blocks equals the total number of memory blocks in the common RAM, that when head and tail pointers are equal the block counter is set to one, that when head and tail pointers are different the block counter is not set to one, etc.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the provided figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus incorporating the link list memory management RAM of the invention.
Figure 2 is a chart showing the structure of the memory management RAM of Figure 1.
Figure 3a is a diagram of an example of the shared data memory of the apparatus of Figure 1.
Figure 3b is a diagram of the details of a page of one of the blocks shown in Figure 3a.
Figure 3c is a diagram of an example of the information contained in the memory management RAM of Fig. 1 for managing the shared data memory example of Figure 3a.
Figures 4a - 4d are flow ~~harts for the write, read, queue clear, and link list: monitoring operations carried out by the flow controller of t:he apparatus of Figure 1.
Figures 5a-5d are state machine diagrams for a write, read, clear, and monitor state machine according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OI' THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention will now be described with reference to the physical layer VLSI portion of an ATM destination switch described in parent U.S. :serial No. 08/650,910, although it is not limited thereto. As ;>een in Fig. 1, and as discussed in the parent application, the physical layer portion 130 of the ATM
destination switch 1.00 preferably includes a UTOPIA interface 150, a managing RAM 162, a flow controller 166, a microprocessor interface 167, channel interface buffers 170, and a RAM interface 175. The flow controller 166 is coupled to the UTOPIA interface 160, the managing RP,M 162, the microprocessor interface 167, the channel interface bL~,ffers 170, and the RAM interface 175. The UTOPIA interface ger,~erally receives cells of ATM data in a byte-wide format, and passes them to the flow controller 165. Based on the destination of the cell (as discussed in the parent application), and th.e priority of the cell, the flow controller 166 writes the cell into an appropriate output buffer 170. The output buffer is preferably capable of storing at least two ATM
cells so that one cell can be read out of the buffer as another is being read into the buffer without conflict. If buffer space is not available for a particular cell at a particular time, the flow controller 166 forwards the ATM cell via the RAM interface 175 to a desired location in a shared RAM 180 (which may be on or off chip) based on informaaion contained in the managing RAM 162 as discussed in more detail below. When room becomes available in the output buffer 170 for the cell, the flow controller 166 reads the data out of the shared RAM 180, and places it in the buffer 170. In the background, when not receiving data from the UTOPIA interface, and when :not reading data from or writing data to the shared RAM 180 or waiting data to the buffers, the flow controller 166 monitors the integrity of the link list structure contained in the managing RAM, as is described in more detail below. In addition, the flow controller 166 cari perform various functions in response to microprocessor command received via the microprocessor interface 167.
The managing RAM 162 may serve various functions, including providing information for assisting in the processing of the header of the ATM cell as discussed in the parent application hereto. For purposes of this invention, however, the managing RAM 262, or at least a portion thereof, is preferably provided as a x bit by y word RAM for the purpose of managing y-2 link lists which are set up in the shared RAM 180 (y-2 equalling the product of w ports times v priorities). Thus, as seen in Fig. 2, a link list information structure for y-2 data queues includes: a head pointer, a tail pointer, a block counter, and a queue empty flag for each of the y-2 data queues; a free list block pointer, block counter, and queue empty flag for a free list; and a block pointer for the unused blocks of memory. Each head pointer and tail pointer preferably includes a block pointer and a position counter, with the block pointer used for pointing to a block in the memory, and the position counter being used to track pages within a block of memory. Thus, for example, where ATM cells of fifty-three bytes of data are to be stored in the shared memory, and each cell is to be stored on a "page", a block having four contiguous pages may be arranged with the position counter being a two bit counter for referencing the page of a block. The block counter for each queue is used to reference the number of blocks contained within the queue. The queue empty flag when set indicates that the queue is empty, and that the pointers contained within the queue as well as the block count can be ignored.
As suggested above, the head pointer for each link List queue contains the address of the first word of the first memory page of the queue in the shared memory. The tail pointer for each link list queue contains the address of the first word of the last memory page in the queue. Each memory page of the shared memory is composed of M contiguous memory addresses. Depending on the memory type, each address location can be of size B bits, with common sizes being e~Lg~ht bits (byte) , sixteen bits (word) , thirty-two bits, or sixty--four bits. In accord with the preferred embodiment: of the invention, the address locations are sixteen bits in length with the first M-1 locations in a page containing the stored information. The M'th location of a last page in a block is used to store a next block pointer which is set to the first location of the next block plus an odd parity bit. Where the block is t:he last block in the queue, the M'th location of the last. page in the last block is set to all ones.
Where the page is neither the last page of the block, nor the last block in the queue, t:he M'th location of the page is not utilized. In the preferred embodiment of the invention used with respect to ATM telecommunications data, each page is thirty-two words in length (i.E~., M =- 32), with each word being sixteen bits. Thus, an ATM cell c>f fifty-three bytes can be stored on a single page with room to :>pare. It should be appreciated, that in some application~~, only the data payload portion of the ATM
cell (i.e., forty-eight bytes), and not the overhead portion (five bytes) will be stored in the shared memory. In other applications, such a.s in ;witches where routing information is added, cells of more than fifty-three bytes may be stored.
Regardless, with a thirty--two word page, system addressing is simplified.
An example of the memory organization of the shared memory is seen in Fig. 3a. In. Fig. 3a, two active link list data queues are represented, as well as a free list queue and an Unused block. In particular, memory blocks 512, 124, and 122 are shown linked together for a fir~~t queue, memory blocks 511, 125, and 123 are linked together fc>r a second queue, memory blocks 510 -125 are linked together for the free list queue, and memory blocks 121 - 1 are t;'nused. It will be appreciated that in the preferred embodiment of the invention, each page contains thirty-two sixteen bit worc~.s. Thus, the thirty-second (M'th) word of memory block 512 (seen in more detail in Fig. 3b) contains a pointer (the ten least significant bits) which points to memory block 124, the thirty-second word of memory block 124 contains a pointer which points to memory block 122, and the thirty-second word of memory block 122 contains all ones, thereby indicating the last word in the queue. Likewise, the thirty-second word of memory block 511 contains a pointer which points to memory block 125, the thirty-second word of memory block 125 contains a pointer which points to memory block 123, and the thirty-second word of memory block 123 contains all ones, thereby indicating the last word of that queue.
The free list of Fig. 3a is seen extending from block 510 to block 126. The unused blocks run from block 121 to block 1.
Turning to Fig. 3c, specifics are seen of the management RAM
which would be associated with managing the shared memory in the state of Fig. 3a. In particular, information for link list #1 is seen with a head pointer having a block pointer having a value equal to 512 and a position counter set at "00" to indicate a first page of memory in the block storing data. The tail pointer of the link list #1 information has a block pointer having a value equal to 122 and a position counter set to "11" to indicate that all pages of block 122 are being used. The block counter of the information for link list #1 is set to a value of three, and the queue empty flag is not set (i.e., equals zero). Information for link list #2 is seen with a head pointer having a block pointer having a value equal to 511 and a position counter set at "01" to indicate that the data first occurs at a second page of the block (i.e., the first page already having been read from the block). The tail pointer of the link list #2 information has a block pointer having a value equal to 123 and a position counter set at "10" which indicates that there is no data in the last page of the block. The block counter of the link list #2 information is also set to a value of three, and the queue empty flag is not set. The value of the head and tail pointers and block count for the information of link list #N are not indicated, as the queue empty flag of link list #N is set (equals one), thereby indicating that the pointers and block counter do not store valid data. Likewise, while details of information for other link lists are not shown, the only data of interest would be that the queue empty f:Lags related to all of those link lists would equal one to :Lndicat~E~ that no valid data is being stored with reference to those 1_ink lists. The head pointer of the free list information has a block pointer set to a value 510, and a block count of 385. The queue empty flag of the free list is not set, as the free list contains data. Finally, the block pointer relating to the Unused queue is shown set to a value of 121. It is noted that in order to increase performance, the free list head pointer and block counter information is preferably implemented in a series oi= flip-flops, and is thus readily available for purpo:~es discussed below with reference to Figs.
4a-4d. The queue empty flags are also preferably similarly implemented.
It should be appreciated that by providing the queue empty flags and an Unused block pointer, excessive initialization requirements are eli.minatE:d.. As suggested above, the queue empty flag indicates that there is no valid data for a link list and that the head and tail pointers for that link list and the block counter of that link: list can be ignored. The Unused block pointer is provided to point to the next unused block in shared memory. As memory F>ages are written or used, the Unused block pointer is decrement.ed until a value of zero is reached. At that point, all cell blocks are included in the link lists (including the free list). As previously mentioned, when a block is read from the shared memory, tree available block is added to the free list. When a new block is required for adding to a link list, the block space may be tal~:en from either the free list or from the Unused blocks, and available blocks from the free list may be taken either before or after the Unused blocks are used.
Turning now to Figure 4a, a flow chart of operations of the flow controller 166 of the' apparatus 100 of Figure 1 is seen with respect to writing data to the shared memory. It is rioted that while the operation; are shown in flow chart form, in accord with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the operations are carried out in hard~rare. When the flow controller 166 determines that it is receiving an ATM cell which cannot be written into a buffer directly, the flow controller makes a determination at 200 (by checking the management RAM queue empty flag associated with that queue) as to whether the queue which should receive that cell is empty. If the queue is not empty, at 202 the queue status (i.e., the tail pointer and position counter) for that queue is obtained, and at 204 a determination is made as to whether a new block will be needed to be added to the queue (i.e., is the position counter equal to "11"). If a new block is not required, at 206 the cell is written to the shared RAM
location indicated by the tail pointer position counter for that queue (stored in management RAM), and at 208 the tail pointer position counter for that queue is updated. At 210, a determination is made as to whether the cell is being written into the last page of a block. If so, at 212 the flow controller writes a word of all ones into the M'th location of the page (in the shared memory).
If it is determined that a new block of shared RAM is required to store the incoming cell because at 200 the queue was empty, at 214, a block is obtained from the either the free list or from unused RAM. If the block is obtained from the free list, at 216, the free list information is updated by changing the head pointer of the free list (i.e., setting the head pointer to the value stored in the M'th location of the last page of the obtained block), and by decrementing the block counter associated with the free list. If the block is obtained from the unused RAM, the block pointer for the unused RAM is decremented at 216.
Regardless, at 218, the cell is written to the queue, and at 220, the tail pointer and block counter for the queue are both updated in the management RAM (with the block counter being set to the value one), and the queue empty flag is changed.
If it is determined that a new block of shared RAM is required to store the incoming cell because at 204 the tail pointer position counter of the link List indicated that the entire tail block is storing data, at 222, a block is obtained from the either the free list or from unused RAM. If the block is obtained from the free list, at 224, the free list is updated by changing the head pointer of the free list (i.e., setting the head pointer to the value stored in the M'th location of the last page of the obtained block:), and by decrementing the block counter associated with tree free list. If the free list becomes empty because a block is removed, the queue empty flag of the free list is set. If the block is obtained from the unused RAM, the block pointer far the unused RAM is decremented at 224.
Regardless, at 228, the cell is written to the queue, and at 230, the tail pointer ano! block: counter for the queue are both updated in the management RAM.
The details of the flow controller operation with respect to a cell read operation (i.e., where a cell is to be read from a queue because a buffer is available to receive the cell) is seen in Fig. 4b. In particular, when a data buffer becomes available, the flow controller at 250 reads the head pointer and tail pointer in the management RAM for the link list associated with the available data ~~uffer. Then, at 252, the flow controller reads from shared memory the cell at the location in the shared memory indicated by the head pointer, and provides the cell to the data buffer. After th:e data has been read, the flow controller determines at 254 (based on the head pointer and tail pointer) whether the cell was the last cell in the queue, and at 256 (based on the head pointer position counter) whether the cell was the last cell in a block. If it is neither, then at 258 the queue status is updated (i..e., the head pointer position counter is changed), and another cell read operation is awaited. If at 254 it is determined. that the cell is the last cell in the queue, at 260, the head pointer for the free list (obtained from the management RAM) is inserted into the last word of the last page of the freed block. Then at 262, the free list in the management RAM is updated by adding the freed block to the head of the free list; i.e., by updating th:e free list block pointer and block counter. At 264, th.e queue empty flag is set for the link list which now has no blocks. If the free list was empty prior to adding the freed block, the free list must be initialized (with appropriate head pointer and block counter) and the queue empty flag changed at 264. In addition, in the case were the free list was empty prior to adding the freed block, the last word in the freed block in the shared RAM should be set to all ones.
If at 256 it is determined that the cell which has been read out of shared memory is the last in a block, then at 266, the head pointer for the free list as obtained from the management RAM is inserted into the last word of the last page of the freed block. Then, at 268, the queue status for the link list is updated by changing the block pointer and position counter of the head pointer (to the value contained in the last word of the page of memory being read out of the shared memory), and by decrementing the block counter. Again, it is noted that if the free list was empty prior to adding the freed block, the free list must be initialized (with appropriate head pointer and block counter) and the queue empty flag changed, and the last word in the freed block in the shared RAM should be set to all ones. It is also noted, that upon obtaining the pointer in the M'th location of the last page of the block, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, at 270, a parity check is done on the pointer. At 272, the calculated parity value is compared to the parity bit stored along with the pointer. Based on the comparison, at 274, a parity error condition can be declared, and sent as an interrupt message via the microprocessor interface port 167 (Fig. 1) to the microprocessor (not shown).
Preferably, when a parity error is found, the microprocessor treats the situation as a catastrophic error and reinitializes the management and data RAMs.
Figure 4c sets out the operation with respect to the queue clear microprocessor command (received via the microprocessor interface 167). When the queue clear operation is presented, at 270 the queue status for the link list is updated by setting the queue empty flag, and at 272, the blocks in the queue are added to the head of the free list which is updated in a manner discussed above (Fig. 4b) with reference to the cell read operation.
The link list monitoring operation seen in Fig. 4d is the hardware agent which monitors the integrity of the link list structure whenever the cell write, cell read, and queue clear operations are not running. The link list monitoring operation preferably monitors four different error conditions. In particular, at 280, the cc>unts of all of the link list block counters (including the free list) where the queue empty flag for those link lists are not ~>et are summed together with the unused blocks and compared the total number of memory blocks in the common RAM. If the sum do>es not equal the total number of memory blocks in the common. RAM, at 281, an error condition is declared by triggering a microprocessor interrupt bit. At 282, the head and tail block pointers of each link list are compared. If at 284 the head and tail block pointers are determined to be equal, at 286 the block counter i.s checked, and if not equal to one, at 287 an error condition is declared. If the head and tail block pointers are not equal when compared at 284, at 288 the block counter is checked, and if' the block count is equal to one, at 289 an error condition is declared. At 290, the block counter for each link list whose queue empty flag is not set is checked;
and if the block counter equals zero, at 291 an error condition is declared.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the write, read, clear, and monitoring operations of the flow controller are carried out in hardware which may be generated by using HDL code to synthesize hardware gates via use a VHDL
compiler. Figures 5a-5d a.re state machines diagrams corresponding to the HDL c:o~de, including a write state machine (Fig. 5a) , a read state ma.c:hine (Fig. 5b) , a clear state machine (Fig. 5c), and a monitoring state machine (Fig. 5d). The gates created using the code may :be standard cell technology or gate array technology.
It should be appreciated that the invention is not intended to be limited to a strictly hardware implementation, but is also intended to apply to memory management utilizing a microprocessor with associated firmware (e. g., a ROM).
There have been described and illustrated herein an apparatus and method for management of shared memory. While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto, as it is intended that the invention be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Thus, while the invention has been described with reference to VLSI implemented ATM equipment, it will be appreciated that the invention has broader applicability. Also, while specific details of RAM
sizes, etc. have been disclosed, it will be appreciated that the details could be varied without deviating from the scope of the invention. For example, while a management of RAM of size x bits by y words has been described for managing y-2 link lists of data, it will be appreciated that the management RAM could assume different sizes. Thus, for example, instead of using a separate word for the unused block pointer, the unused block pointer could be located in the "tail pointer" location of the free list (which itself does not use a tail pointer), thereby providing a management RAM of x bits by y words for managing y-1 link lists of data. In addition, rather than providing the information related to the link lists with the head pointer, tail pointer, block counter, and queue empty flag in that order, the variables of the link list could be reordered. Similarly, instead of providing a shared memory having pages of thirty-two words in depth, each word being sixteen bits in length, it will be appreciated that memories of different lengths and depths could be utilized. Also, rather than locating the pointer to the next block in the last word of the last page of a previous block, it will be appreciated that the pointer could be located in a different location. Further yet, while specific flow charts have been disclosed with respect to various operations, it will be appreciated that various aspects of the operations can be conducted in different orders. In addition, while particular code has been disclosed for generating gate arrays which conduct the operations in hardware, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other code can be utilized to generate hardware, and that hardware and/or firmware can be generated in different manners. Furthermore, while the invention was described with respect to separate RAMS for the management RAM
and the shared data RAM, it will be appreciated that both memories may be part. of a larger single memory means. It will therefore be appreciated by those skilled in the art that yet other modifications could be made to the provided invention without deviating from it:; spirit and scope as so claimed.
The last (M'th) location of the last page in the block preferably is used to store the address of the first location of the next block of the queue plus an odd parity bit; i.e., the M'th location of the last page in the block stores a next block pointer plus parity information. If there are no more blocks in the queue, the M'th location in the last page is set to all ones.
According to another aspect of the invention, an independent agent is utilized in the background to monitor the integrity of the.link list structure. The independent agent monitors the sum of the count of all of the link list block counters plus the unused blocks to ensure that it equals the total number of memory blocks in the common RAM. If not, an error is declared.
Likewise, the independent agent checks each link list stored in the management RAM for the following error conditions: head and tail pointers are equal and the block counter is not of value one; head and tail pointers are different and the block counter is one; and, block counter equals zero. If desired, the independent agent can also monitor the block pointers stored in the M'th location of the last page of each block to determine parity errors and/or to determine errors using parity or CRC.
Using the methods and apparatus of the invention, four operations are defined for ATM cell management: cell write, cell read, queue clear, and link list monitoring. In the cell write operation, a cell is stored into a queue. More particularly, when an ATM cell is received at a port w so that it is to be stored in queue number n (which stores cells of priority v for port w), a determination is first made as to whether the queue is empty. If it is not empty, the queue status (i.e., the tail pointer and position counter stored in management RAM) is obtained, and a det~erminat:ion is made as to whether a new block will be needed to b~~ added to the queue. If a new block is not required, the cell is written to the location indicated by the tail pointer posit ion, and the tail pointer position counter for that queue in the management RAM is updated. If this is the last page of a block, the M'th location of the page (in the shared memory) is set to all ones.. If a new block is required, either because the queue w~3s empty or because a previous cell had been written into the laat page of a block, a block must be obtained.
If it is a first black of a queue, initial queue parameters are stored. If it is not the first block of the link list, a block is obtained from thc~ free 7_ist and the free list is updated; or the block is obtaincsd from the unused blocks and the block pointer for the unu:~ed blocks is updated. Then, the cell is written to the queue, and t:he tail pointer, position counter, and block counter for the queuEa are all updated in the management RAM.
The cell read operation is utilized where a cell is to be read from a queue. In the cel:1 read operation, the cell indicated by the head pointer and head pointer position counter for that queue is read from the quEsue. ~~f:ter reading the cell from the queue a determination is made as to whether the cell was either the last cell in a block and!or thE~ last cell in the queue. If it is neither, then the queue si_atus is updated (i.e., the head pointer position counter is changed), and another cell read operation is awaited. If the ce:L1 is i~he last cell in the block, then the queue status prefer<~bly is checked for correctness by verifying the parity of the painter (using a parity bit), and is updated by changing the head pointer and head pointer position counter. The free list is updated by adding the freed block to the head of the free list, and the :Free l:i~;t and link list block counters are updated. If the ce_L1 is the last cell in the queue, the procedure for the list ce:Ll. in the block is followed, and the queue empty flag is set.
The queue clear operation is a microprocessor command provided for the purpose of clearing a queue. When the queue clear operation is presented, the queue status is updated by setting the queue flag, and the blocks in the queue are added to the head of the free list which is likewise updated.
The link list monitoring operation is the agent which monitors the integrity of the link list structure whenever the cell write, cell read, and queue clear operations are not running. As set forth above, the link list monitoring operation monitors the linked lists for errors by checking that the sum of the count of all of the link list block counters plus the unused blocks equals the total number of memory blocks in the common RAM, that when head and tail pointers are equal the block counter is set to one, that when head and tail pointers are different the block counter is not set to one, etc.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the provided figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus incorporating the link list memory management RAM of the invention.
Figure 2 is a chart showing the structure of the memory management RAM of Figure 1.
Figure 3a is a diagram of an example of the shared data memory of the apparatus of Figure 1.
Figure 3b is a diagram of the details of a page of one of the blocks shown in Figure 3a.
Figure 3c is a diagram of an example of the information contained in the memory management RAM of Fig. 1 for managing the shared data memory example of Figure 3a.
Figures 4a - 4d are flow ~~harts for the write, read, queue clear, and link list: monitoring operations carried out by the flow controller of t:he apparatus of Figure 1.
Figures 5a-5d are state machine diagrams for a write, read, clear, and monitor state machine according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OI' THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention will now be described with reference to the physical layer VLSI portion of an ATM destination switch described in parent U.S. :serial No. 08/650,910, although it is not limited thereto. As ;>een in Fig. 1, and as discussed in the parent application, the physical layer portion 130 of the ATM
destination switch 1.00 preferably includes a UTOPIA interface 150, a managing RAM 162, a flow controller 166, a microprocessor interface 167, channel interface buffers 170, and a RAM interface 175. The flow controller 166 is coupled to the UTOPIA interface 160, the managing RP,M 162, the microprocessor interface 167, the channel interface bL~,ffers 170, and the RAM interface 175. The UTOPIA interface ger,~erally receives cells of ATM data in a byte-wide format, and passes them to the flow controller 165. Based on the destination of the cell (as discussed in the parent application), and th.e priority of the cell, the flow controller 166 writes the cell into an appropriate output buffer 170. The output buffer is preferably capable of storing at least two ATM
cells so that one cell can be read out of the buffer as another is being read into the buffer without conflict. If buffer space is not available for a particular cell at a particular time, the flow controller 166 forwards the ATM cell via the RAM interface 175 to a desired location in a shared RAM 180 (which may be on or off chip) based on informaaion contained in the managing RAM 162 as discussed in more detail below. When room becomes available in the output buffer 170 for the cell, the flow controller 166 reads the data out of the shared RAM 180, and places it in the buffer 170. In the background, when not receiving data from the UTOPIA interface, and when :not reading data from or writing data to the shared RAM 180 or waiting data to the buffers, the flow controller 166 monitors the integrity of the link list structure contained in the managing RAM, as is described in more detail below. In addition, the flow controller 166 cari perform various functions in response to microprocessor command received via the microprocessor interface 167.
The managing RAM 162 may serve various functions, including providing information for assisting in the processing of the header of the ATM cell as discussed in the parent application hereto. For purposes of this invention, however, the managing RAM 262, or at least a portion thereof, is preferably provided as a x bit by y word RAM for the purpose of managing y-2 link lists which are set up in the shared RAM 180 (y-2 equalling the product of w ports times v priorities). Thus, as seen in Fig. 2, a link list information structure for y-2 data queues includes: a head pointer, a tail pointer, a block counter, and a queue empty flag for each of the y-2 data queues; a free list block pointer, block counter, and queue empty flag for a free list; and a block pointer for the unused blocks of memory. Each head pointer and tail pointer preferably includes a block pointer and a position counter, with the block pointer used for pointing to a block in the memory, and the position counter being used to track pages within a block of memory. Thus, for example, where ATM cells of fifty-three bytes of data are to be stored in the shared memory, and each cell is to be stored on a "page", a block having four contiguous pages may be arranged with the position counter being a two bit counter for referencing the page of a block. The block counter for each queue is used to reference the number of blocks contained within the queue. The queue empty flag when set indicates that the queue is empty, and that the pointers contained within the queue as well as the block count can be ignored.
As suggested above, the head pointer for each link List queue contains the address of the first word of the first memory page of the queue in the shared memory. The tail pointer for each link list queue contains the address of the first word of the last memory page in the queue. Each memory page of the shared memory is composed of M contiguous memory addresses. Depending on the memory type, each address location can be of size B bits, with common sizes being e~Lg~ht bits (byte) , sixteen bits (word) , thirty-two bits, or sixty--four bits. In accord with the preferred embodiment: of the invention, the address locations are sixteen bits in length with the first M-1 locations in a page containing the stored information. The M'th location of a last page in a block is used to store a next block pointer which is set to the first location of the next block plus an odd parity bit. Where the block is t:he last block in the queue, the M'th location of the last. page in the last block is set to all ones.
Where the page is neither the last page of the block, nor the last block in the queue, t:he M'th location of the page is not utilized. In the preferred embodiment of the invention used with respect to ATM telecommunications data, each page is thirty-two words in length (i.E~., M =- 32), with each word being sixteen bits. Thus, an ATM cell c>f fifty-three bytes can be stored on a single page with room to :>pare. It should be appreciated, that in some application~~, only the data payload portion of the ATM
cell (i.e., forty-eight bytes), and not the overhead portion (five bytes) will be stored in the shared memory. In other applications, such a.s in ;witches where routing information is added, cells of more than fifty-three bytes may be stored.
Regardless, with a thirty--two word page, system addressing is simplified.
An example of the memory organization of the shared memory is seen in Fig. 3a. In. Fig. 3a, two active link list data queues are represented, as well as a free list queue and an Unused block. In particular, memory blocks 512, 124, and 122 are shown linked together for a fir~~t queue, memory blocks 511, 125, and 123 are linked together fc>r a second queue, memory blocks 510 -125 are linked together for the free list queue, and memory blocks 121 - 1 are t;'nused. It will be appreciated that in the preferred embodiment of the invention, each page contains thirty-two sixteen bit worc~.s. Thus, the thirty-second (M'th) word of memory block 512 (seen in more detail in Fig. 3b) contains a pointer (the ten least significant bits) which points to memory block 124, the thirty-second word of memory block 124 contains a pointer which points to memory block 122, and the thirty-second word of memory block 122 contains all ones, thereby indicating the last word in the queue. Likewise, the thirty-second word of memory block 511 contains a pointer which points to memory block 125, the thirty-second word of memory block 125 contains a pointer which points to memory block 123, and the thirty-second word of memory block 123 contains all ones, thereby indicating the last word of that queue.
The free list of Fig. 3a is seen extending from block 510 to block 126. The unused blocks run from block 121 to block 1.
Turning to Fig. 3c, specifics are seen of the management RAM
which would be associated with managing the shared memory in the state of Fig. 3a. In particular, information for link list #1 is seen with a head pointer having a block pointer having a value equal to 512 and a position counter set at "00" to indicate a first page of memory in the block storing data. The tail pointer of the link list #1 information has a block pointer having a value equal to 122 and a position counter set to "11" to indicate that all pages of block 122 are being used. The block counter of the information for link list #1 is set to a value of three, and the queue empty flag is not set (i.e., equals zero). Information for link list #2 is seen with a head pointer having a block pointer having a value equal to 511 and a position counter set at "01" to indicate that the data first occurs at a second page of the block (i.e., the first page already having been read from the block). The tail pointer of the link list #2 information has a block pointer having a value equal to 123 and a position counter set at "10" which indicates that there is no data in the last page of the block. The block counter of the link list #2 information is also set to a value of three, and the queue empty flag is not set. The value of the head and tail pointers and block count for the information of link list #N are not indicated, as the queue empty flag of link list #N is set (equals one), thereby indicating that the pointers and block counter do not store valid data. Likewise, while details of information for other link lists are not shown, the only data of interest would be that the queue empty f:Lags related to all of those link lists would equal one to :Lndicat~E~ that no valid data is being stored with reference to those 1_ink lists. The head pointer of the free list information has a block pointer set to a value 510, and a block count of 385. The queue empty flag of the free list is not set, as the free list contains data. Finally, the block pointer relating to the Unused queue is shown set to a value of 121. It is noted that in order to increase performance, the free list head pointer and block counter information is preferably implemented in a series oi= flip-flops, and is thus readily available for purpo:~es discussed below with reference to Figs.
4a-4d. The queue empty flags are also preferably similarly implemented.
It should be appreciated that by providing the queue empty flags and an Unused block pointer, excessive initialization requirements are eli.minatE:d.. As suggested above, the queue empty flag indicates that there is no valid data for a link list and that the head and tail pointers for that link list and the block counter of that link: list can be ignored. The Unused block pointer is provided to point to the next unused block in shared memory. As memory F>ages are written or used, the Unused block pointer is decrement.ed until a value of zero is reached. At that point, all cell blocks are included in the link lists (including the free list). As previously mentioned, when a block is read from the shared memory, tree available block is added to the free list. When a new block is required for adding to a link list, the block space may be tal~:en from either the free list or from the Unused blocks, and available blocks from the free list may be taken either before or after the Unused blocks are used.
Turning now to Figure 4a, a flow chart of operations of the flow controller 166 of the' apparatus 100 of Figure 1 is seen with respect to writing data to the shared memory. It is rioted that while the operation; are shown in flow chart form, in accord with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the operations are carried out in hard~rare. When the flow controller 166 determines that it is receiving an ATM cell which cannot be written into a buffer directly, the flow controller makes a determination at 200 (by checking the management RAM queue empty flag associated with that queue) as to whether the queue which should receive that cell is empty. If the queue is not empty, at 202 the queue status (i.e., the tail pointer and position counter) for that queue is obtained, and at 204 a determination is made as to whether a new block will be needed to be added to the queue (i.e., is the position counter equal to "11"). If a new block is not required, at 206 the cell is written to the shared RAM
location indicated by the tail pointer position counter for that queue (stored in management RAM), and at 208 the tail pointer position counter for that queue is updated. At 210, a determination is made as to whether the cell is being written into the last page of a block. If so, at 212 the flow controller writes a word of all ones into the M'th location of the page (in the shared memory).
If it is determined that a new block of shared RAM is required to store the incoming cell because at 200 the queue was empty, at 214, a block is obtained from the either the free list or from unused RAM. If the block is obtained from the free list, at 216, the free list information is updated by changing the head pointer of the free list (i.e., setting the head pointer to the value stored in the M'th location of the last page of the obtained block), and by decrementing the block counter associated with the free list. If the block is obtained from the unused RAM, the block pointer for the unused RAM is decremented at 216.
Regardless, at 218, the cell is written to the queue, and at 220, the tail pointer and block counter for the queue are both updated in the management RAM (with the block counter being set to the value one), and the queue empty flag is changed.
If it is determined that a new block of shared RAM is required to store the incoming cell because at 204 the tail pointer position counter of the link List indicated that the entire tail block is storing data, at 222, a block is obtained from the either the free list or from unused RAM. If the block is obtained from the free list, at 224, the free list is updated by changing the head pointer of the free list (i.e., setting the head pointer to the value stored in the M'th location of the last page of the obtained block:), and by decrementing the block counter associated with tree free list. If the free list becomes empty because a block is removed, the queue empty flag of the free list is set. If the block is obtained from the unused RAM, the block pointer far the unused RAM is decremented at 224.
Regardless, at 228, the cell is written to the queue, and at 230, the tail pointer ano! block: counter for the queue are both updated in the management RAM.
The details of the flow controller operation with respect to a cell read operation (i.e., where a cell is to be read from a queue because a buffer is available to receive the cell) is seen in Fig. 4b. In particular, when a data buffer becomes available, the flow controller at 250 reads the head pointer and tail pointer in the management RAM for the link list associated with the available data ~~uffer. Then, at 252, the flow controller reads from shared memory the cell at the location in the shared memory indicated by the head pointer, and provides the cell to the data buffer. After th:e data has been read, the flow controller determines at 254 (based on the head pointer and tail pointer) whether the cell was the last cell in the queue, and at 256 (based on the head pointer position counter) whether the cell was the last cell in a block. If it is neither, then at 258 the queue status is updated (i..e., the head pointer position counter is changed), and another cell read operation is awaited. If at 254 it is determined. that the cell is the last cell in the queue, at 260, the head pointer for the free list (obtained from the management RAM) is inserted into the last word of the last page of the freed block. Then at 262, the free list in the management RAM is updated by adding the freed block to the head of the free list; i.e., by updating th:e free list block pointer and block counter. At 264, th.e queue empty flag is set for the link list which now has no blocks. If the free list was empty prior to adding the freed block, the free list must be initialized (with appropriate head pointer and block counter) and the queue empty flag changed at 264. In addition, in the case were the free list was empty prior to adding the freed block, the last word in the freed block in the shared RAM should be set to all ones.
If at 256 it is determined that the cell which has been read out of shared memory is the last in a block, then at 266, the head pointer for the free list as obtained from the management RAM is inserted into the last word of the last page of the freed block. Then, at 268, the queue status for the link list is updated by changing the block pointer and position counter of the head pointer (to the value contained in the last word of the page of memory being read out of the shared memory), and by decrementing the block counter. Again, it is noted that if the free list was empty prior to adding the freed block, the free list must be initialized (with appropriate head pointer and block counter) and the queue empty flag changed, and the last word in the freed block in the shared RAM should be set to all ones. It is also noted, that upon obtaining the pointer in the M'th location of the last page of the block, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, at 270, a parity check is done on the pointer. At 272, the calculated parity value is compared to the parity bit stored along with the pointer. Based on the comparison, at 274, a parity error condition can be declared, and sent as an interrupt message via the microprocessor interface port 167 (Fig. 1) to the microprocessor (not shown).
Preferably, when a parity error is found, the microprocessor treats the situation as a catastrophic error and reinitializes the management and data RAMs.
Figure 4c sets out the operation with respect to the queue clear microprocessor command (received via the microprocessor interface 167). When the queue clear operation is presented, at 270 the queue status for the link list is updated by setting the queue empty flag, and at 272, the blocks in the queue are added to the head of the free list which is updated in a manner discussed above (Fig. 4b) with reference to the cell read operation.
The link list monitoring operation seen in Fig. 4d is the hardware agent which monitors the integrity of the link list structure whenever the cell write, cell read, and queue clear operations are not running. The link list monitoring operation preferably monitors four different error conditions. In particular, at 280, the cc>unts of all of the link list block counters (including the free list) where the queue empty flag for those link lists are not ~>et are summed together with the unused blocks and compared the total number of memory blocks in the common RAM. If the sum do>es not equal the total number of memory blocks in the common. RAM, at 281, an error condition is declared by triggering a microprocessor interrupt bit. At 282, the head and tail block pointers of each link list are compared. If at 284 the head and tail block pointers are determined to be equal, at 286 the block counter i.s checked, and if not equal to one, at 287 an error condition is declared. If the head and tail block pointers are not equal when compared at 284, at 288 the block counter is checked, and if' the block count is equal to one, at 289 an error condition is declared. At 290, the block counter for each link list whose queue empty flag is not set is checked;
and if the block counter equals zero, at 291 an error condition is declared.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the write, read, clear, and monitoring operations of the flow controller are carried out in hardware which may be generated by using HDL code to synthesize hardware gates via use a VHDL
compiler. Figures 5a-5d a.re state machines diagrams corresponding to the HDL c:o~de, including a write state machine (Fig. 5a) , a read state ma.c:hine (Fig. 5b) , a clear state machine (Fig. 5c), and a monitoring state machine (Fig. 5d). The gates created using the code may :be standard cell technology or gate array technology.
It should be appreciated that the invention is not intended to be limited to a strictly hardware implementation, but is also intended to apply to memory management utilizing a microprocessor with associated firmware (e. g., a ROM).
There have been described and illustrated herein an apparatus and method for management of shared memory. While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto, as it is intended that the invention be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Thus, while the invention has been described with reference to VLSI implemented ATM equipment, it will be appreciated that the invention has broader applicability. Also, while specific details of RAM
sizes, etc. have been disclosed, it will be appreciated that the details could be varied without deviating from the scope of the invention. For example, while a management of RAM of size x bits by y words has been described for managing y-2 link lists of data, it will be appreciated that the management RAM could assume different sizes. Thus, for example, instead of using a separate word for the unused block pointer, the unused block pointer could be located in the "tail pointer" location of the free list (which itself does not use a tail pointer), thereby providing a management RAM of x bits by y words for managing y-1 link lists of data. In addition, rather than providing the information related to the link lists with the head pointer, tail pointer, block counter, and queue empty flag in that order, the variables of the link list could be reordered. Similarly, instead of providing a shared memory having pages of thirty-two words in depth, each word being sixteen bits in length, it will be appreciated that memories of different lengths and depths could be utilized. Also, rather than locating the pointer to the next block in the last word of the last page of a previous block, it will be appreciated that the pointer could be located in a different location. Further yet, while specific flow charts have been disclosed with respect to various operations, it will be appreciated that various aspects of the operations can be conducted in different orders. In addition, while particular code has been disclosed for generating gate arrays which conduct the operations in hardware, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other code can be utilized to generate hardware, and that hardware and/or firmware can be generated in different manners. Furthermore, while the invention was described with respect to separate RAMS for the management RAM
and the shared data RAM, it will be appreciated that both memories may be part. of a larger single memory means. It will therefore be appreciated by those skilled in the art that yet other modifications could be made to the provided invention without deviating from it:; spirit and scope as so claimed.
Claims (23)
1. Apparatus for managing the storage of data in a memory, comprising:
a) a shared memory means having a plurality of data storage locations;
b) control means for receiving said data and forwarding said data to desired of said plurality of data storage locations in said shared memory means, wherein said data is stored in said plurality of data storage to cations in the form of a plurality of link lists, each link list having a head;
c) management memory means for storing information regarding each of said plurality of kink lists, said information including a head pointer and a queue empty flag for each link list, said head pointer for each particular respective link list pointing to a location of a respective said head of that particular link list, and said queue empty flag for a link list indicating that that link list has no valid data contained therein.
a) a shared memory means having a plurality of data storage locations;
b) control means for receiving said data and forwarding said data to desired of said plurality of data storage locations in said shared memory means, wherein said data is stored in said plurality of data storage to cations in the form of a plurality of link lists, each link list having a head;
c) management memory means for storing information regarding each of said plurality of kink lists, said information including a head pointer and a queue empty flag for each link list, said head pointer for each particular respective link list pointing to a location of a respective said head of that particular link list, and said queue empty flag for a link list indicating that that link list has no valid data contained therein.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said control means reads data from said shared memory means, at least a plurality of raid data storage locations are in the form of a free link list, said free link list relating to data storage locations from which data has been read by said control means, and said management memory means includes a pointer and a queue empty flag for said free link list.
said control means reads data from said shared memory means, at least a plurality of raid data storage locations are in the form of a free link list, said free link list relating to data storage locations from which data has been read by said control means, and said management memory means includes a pointer and a queue empty flag for said free link list.
3. An apparatus for managing the storage of data in a memory, comprising:
a) a shared memory means having a plurality of data storage locations;
b) control means for receiving said data and forwarding said data to desired of said plurality of data storage locations in said shared memory means, and for reading data from said shared memory means, wherein said data is stored in said plurality of data storage locations in the form of a plurality of link lists, each link list having a head;
c) management memory means for storing information regarding each of said plurality of link lists, said information including a head pointer for each link list queue, said head pointer for each particular respective link list pointing to a location of a respective said head of that particular link list, wherein upon initialization, at least a plurality of said data storage locations of said shared memory means are unused, and after utilization, at least a plurality of said data storage locations are in the form of a free link list, said free link list relating to data storage locations from which data has been read by said control means, and wherein said management memory means includes a pointer to at least one of said unused data storage locations, and said management memory means includes a pointer for said free link list.
a) a shared memory means having a plurality of data storage locations;
b) control means for receiving said data and forwarding said data to desired of said plurality of data storage locations in said shared memory means, and for reading data from said shared memory means, wherein said data is stored in said plurality of data storage locations in the form of a plurality of link lists, each link list having a head;
c) management memory means for storing information regarding each of said plurality of link lists, said information including a head pointer for each link list queue, said head pointer for each particular respective link list pointing to a location of a respective said head of that particular link list, wherein upon initialization, at least a plurality of said data storage locations of said shared memory means are unused, and after utilization, at least a plurality of said data storage locations are in the form of a free link list, said free link list relating to data storage locations from which data has been read by said control means, and wherein said management memory means includes a pointer to at least one of said unused data storage locations, and said management memory means includes a pointer for said free link list.
4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein:
at least upon initialization, at least a plurality of said data storage locations of said shared memory means are unused, and said management memory means includes a pointer to at least one of said unused data storage locations.
at least upon initialization, at least a plurality of said data storage locations of said shared memory means are unused, and said management memory means includes a pointer to at least one of said unused data storage locations.
5. An apparatus according to any previous claim, wherein:
said shared memory means is arranged in a plurality of blocks with each block having a plurality of said data storage locations, and said information stored in said management memory means regarding each of said plurality of link list queues includes a block counter for each of said plurality of link list queues, each block counter daunting the number of blocks contained in that link list queue.
said shared memory means is arranged in a plurality of blocks with each block having a plurality of said data storage locations, and said information stored in said management memory means regarding each of said plurality of link list queues includes a block counter for each of said plurality of link list queues, each block counter daunting the number of blocks contained in that link list queue.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:
each of said plurality of blocks is arranged as a plurality of contiguous pages with each page having a plurality of said data storage locations, and each said head pointer comprises a block pointer which points to a block and a page counter which points to a page in said block.
each of said plurality of blocks is arranged as a plurality of contiguous pages with each page having a plurality of said data storage locations, and each said head pointer comprises a block pointer which points to a block and a page counter which points to a page in said block.
7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:
each block storing data includes at least one location containing one of (i) a pointer to a next block in the link list, and (ii) an indicator which indicates that the block is the last block in the link list.
each block storing data includes at least one location containing one of (i) a pointer to a next block in the link list, and (ii) an indicator which indicates that the block is the last block in the link list.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:
said pointer to a next block in the link list includes a parity bit for said pointer.
said pointer to a next block in the link list includes a parity bit for said pointer.
9. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:
each block storing data includes at least one location in a last page of that block containing one of (i) a pointer to a next block in the link list, and (ii) an indicator which indicates that the block is the last block in the link list.
each block storing data includes at least one location in a last page of that block containing one of (i) a pointer to a next block in the link list, and (ii) an indicator which indicates that the block is the last block in the link list.
10. An apparatus according to any previous claim, wherein:
said information includes a tail pointer for each link list containing said data.
said information includes a tail pointer for each link list containing said data.
11. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:
said information includes a tail pointer for each link list containing said data, each of said plurality of blocks is arranged as a plurality of contiguous pages with each page having a plurality of said data storage locations, each said head pointer comprises a first block pointer which points to a block and a page counter which points to a page in said block, and each said tail pointer comprises a second block pointer which points to a tail block and a page counter which points to a page in said tail block.
said information includes a tail pointer for each link list containing said data, each of said plurality of blocks is arranged as a plurality of contiguous pages with each page having a plurality of said data storage locations, each said head pointer comprises a first block pointer which points to a block and a page counter which points to a page in said block, and each said tail pointer comprises a second block pointer which points to a tail block and a page counter which points to a page in said tail block.
12. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:
said data comprises ATM data received in cell format, and each said page includes enough of said data storage locations to store all of the data contained in an ATM cell.
said data comprises ATM data received in cell format, and each said page includes enough of said data storage locations to store all of the data contained in an ATM cell.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:
each page includes thirty-two sixteen bit word locations.
each page includes thirty-two sixteen bit word locations.
14. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:
said control means reads data from said shared memory means, at least a plurality of said data storage locations are in the form of a free link list, said free link list relating to data storage locations from which data has been read by said control means, and said management memory means includes a pointer, a block counter, and a queue empty flag for said free link list, at least a plurality of said data storage locations of said shared memory means are unused, and said management memory means includes a pointer to said at least one of said unused data storage locations, and said control means includes means for comparing a sum of counts of said block counters of each link list containing data, said free link list, and said unused pointer to the number of blocks in said shared memory means.
said control means reads data from said shared memory means, at least a plurality of said data storage locations are in the form of a free link list, said free link list relating to data storage locations from which data has been read by said control means, and said management memory means includes a pointer, a block counter, and a queue empty flag for said free link list, at least a plurality of said data storage locations of said shared memory means are unused, and said management memory means includes a pointer to said at least one of said unused data storage locations, and said control means includes means for comparing a sum of counts of said block counters of each link list containing data, said free link list, and said unused pointer to the number of blocks in said shared memory means.
15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein:
said control means further comprises means for generating an error signal is said sum of counts does not equal said number of blocks in said shared memory means.
said control means further comprises means for generating an error signal is said sum of counts does not equal said number of blocks in said shared memory means.
16. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:
said control means includes means for comparing, for each link list containing data, said tail pointer to said head pointer.
said control means includes means for comparing, for each link list containing data, said tail pointer to said head pointer.
17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:
said control means further comprises means for generating an error signal if said tail pointer and said head pointer for a link list containing data point to an identical block, and said block counter for said link list does not equal one.
said control means further comprises means for generating an error signal if said tail pointer and said head pointer for a link list containing data point to an identical block, and said block counter for said link list does not equal one.
18. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:
said control means further comprises means for generating an error signal if said tail pointer and said head pointer for a link list containing data point to different blocks, and said block counter for said link list equals one.
said control means further comprises means for generating an error signal if said tail pointer and said head pointer for a link list containing data point to different blocks, and said block counter for said link list equals one.
19. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:
said control means further comprises means for checking the count of each block counter of a link list where the queue empty flag is not set, and for generating an error signal if the count is zero and the queue empty flag is not set.
said control means further comprises means for checking the count of each block counter of a link list where the queue empty flag is not set, and for generating an error signal if the count is zero and the queue empty flag is not set.
20. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein:
said control means and said management memory means are contained on a single integrated circuit.
said control means and said management memory means are contained on a single integrated circuit.
21. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:
said management memory means includes said pointer, a block counter, and a queue empty flag for said free link list, and said control means includes means for comparing a sum of counts of said block counters of each link list containing data, said free link list, and said unused pointer to the number of blocks in said shared memory means, and means for generating an error signal is said sum of counts does not equal said number of blocks in said shared memory means.
said management memory means includes said pointer, a block counter, and a queue empty flag for said free link list, and said control means includes means for comparing a sum of counts of said block counters of each link list containing data, said free link list, and said unused pointer to the number of blocks in said shared memory means, and means for generating an error signal is said sum of counts does not equal said number of blocks in said shared memory means.
22. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:
said control means includes means for comparing, for each link list containing date, said tail pointer to said head pointer, and means for generating an error signal if either (i) said tail pointer and said head pointer for a link list containing data point to an identical block, and said block counter for said link list does not equal one, or (ii) said tail pointer and said head pointer for a link list containing data point to different blocks, and said block counter for said link list equals one.
said control means includes means for comparing, for each link list containing date, said tail pointer to said head pointer, and means for generating an error signal if either (i) said tail pointer and said head pointer for a link list containing data point to an identical block, and said block counter for said link list does not equal one, or (ii) said tail pointer and said head pointer for a link list containing data point to different blocks, and said block counter for said link list equals one.
23. A method of managing the storage of data utilizing a controller, a shared memory having a plurality of data storage locations, and a management memory, said method comprising:
a) using said controller to forward received data to desired of the plurality of data storage locations in the shared memory, wherein the data is stored in the plurality of data storage locations in the form of a plurality of link lists, each link list having a head; and b) storing information regarding each of the plurality of link lists in the management memory, said information including a head pointer and a queue empty flag for each link list, said head pointer for each particular respective link list pointing to a location of a respective said head of that particular link list, and said queue empty flag for a link list indicating that that link list has no valid data contained therein.
a) using said controller to forward received data to desired of the plurality of data storage locations in the shared memory, wherein the data is stored in the plurality of data storage locations in the form of a plurality of link lists, each link list having a head; and b) storing information regarding each of the plurality of link lists in the management memory, said information including a head pointer and a queue empty flag for each link list, said head pointer for each particular respective link list pointing to a location of a respective said head of that particular link list, and said queue empty flag for a link list indicating that that link list has no valid data contained therein.
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| US08/796,085 | 1997-02-05 | ||
| PCT/US1998/002131 WO1998036357A1 (en) | 1997-02-05 | 1998-02-05 | Shared memory control using multiple linked lists with pointers, status flags, memory block counters and parity |
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-
1997
- 1997-02-05 US US08/796,085 patent/US5893162A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1998
- 1998-02-05 WO PCT/US1998/002131 patent/WO1998036357A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1998-02-05 IL IL13083498A patent/IL130834A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1998-02-05 CA CA002277981A patent/CA2277981A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-02-05 EP EP98904915A patent/EP1036360A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1998-02-05 JP JP53580598A patent/JP2001511281A/en active Pending
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20220382464A1 (en) * | 2021-04-07 | 2022-12-01 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Semiconductor memory device and memory system including the same |
| US11947810B2 (en) * | 2021-04-07 | 2024-04-02 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Semiconductor memory device and memory system including the same |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US5893162A (en) | 1999-04-06 |
| JP2001511281A (en) | 2001-08-07 |
| IL130834A0 (en) | 2001-01-28 |
| EP1036360A1 (en) | 2000-09-20 |
| IL130834A (en) | 2003-10-31 |
| WO1998036357A1 (en) | 1998-08-20 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |