METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING FIRMWARE ON DEMAND

    公开(公告)号:US20170249163A1

    公开(公告)日:2017-08-31

    申请号:US15273398

    申请日:2016-09-22

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enabling a peripheral processor to retrieve and load firmware for execution within the constraints of its memory. The peripheral processor is allocated a portion of the host processor's memory, to function as a logical secondary and tertiary memory for memory cache operation. The described embodiments enable the peripheral processor to support much larger and more complex firmware. Additionally, a multi-facetted locking mechanism is described which enables the peripheral processor and the host processor to access the secondary memory, while minimally impacting the other processor.

    METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING ERRORS WITH AN INTER-PROCESSOR COMMUNICATION LINK BETWEEN INDEPENDENTLY OPERABLE PROCESSORS
    44.
    发明申请
    METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING ERRORS WITH AN INTER-PROCESSOR COMMUNICATION LINK BETWEEN INDEPENDENTLY OPERABLE PROCESSORS 有权
    用于通过独立可操作的处理器之间的处理器间通信链接恢复错误的方法和装置

    公开(公告)号:US20160103743A1

    公开(公告)日:2016-04-14

    申请号:US14879030

    申请日:2015-10-08

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an inter-processor communication (IPC) link between two (or more) independently operable processors. In one aspect, the IPC protocol is based on a “shared” memory interface for run-time processing (i.e., the independently operable processors each share (either virtually or physically) a common memory interface). In another aspect, the IPC communication link is configured to support a host driven boot protocol used during a boot sequence to establish a basic communication path between the peripheral and the host processors. Various other embodiments described herein include sleep procedures (as defined separately for the host and peripheral processors), and error handling.

    Abstract translation: 两个(或多个)可独立操作的处理器之间的处理器间通信(IPC)链接的方法和装置。 在一个方面,IPC协议基于用于运行时处理的“共享”存储器接口(即,独立可操作的处理器每个共享(虚拟或物理上)公共存储器接口)。 在另一方面,IPC通信链路被配置为支持在引导序列期间使用的主机驱动的引导协议,以在外围设备和主处理器之间建立基本通信路径。 本文描述的各种其他实施例包括睡眠过程(如针对主机和外围处理器分别定义的)和错误处理。

    Methods and apparatus for synchronizing uplink and downlink transactions on an inter-device communication link

    公开(公告)号:US11176068B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-11-16

    申请号:US16780743

    申请日:2020-02-03

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a synchronized multi-directional transfer on an inter-processor communication (IPC) link. In one embodiment, the synchronized multi-directional transfer utilizes one or more buffers which are configured to accumulate data during a first state. The one or more buffers are further configured to transfer the accumulated data during a second state. Data is accumulated during a low power state where one or more processors are inactive, and the data transfer occurs during an operational state where the processors are active. Additionally, in some variants, the data transfer may be performed for currently available transfer resources, and halted until additional transfer resources are made available. In still other variants, one or more of the independently operable processors may execute traffic monitoring processes so as to optimize data throughput of the IPC link.

    Methods and apparatus for reduced overhead data transfer with a shared ring buffer

    公开(公告)号:US11176064B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-11-16

    申请号:US16588557

    申请日:2019-09-30

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing bus overhead with virtualized transfer rings. The Inter-Processor Communications (IPC) bus uses a ring buffer (e.g., a so-called Transfer Ring (TR)) to provide Direct Memory Access (DMA)-like memory access between processors. However, performing small transactions within the TR inefficiently uses bus overhead. A Virtualized Transfer Ring (VTR) is a null data structure that doesn't require any backing memory allocation. A processor servicing a VTR data transfer includes the data payload as part of an optional header/footer data structure within a completion ring (CR).

    METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING PERIPHERAL SUB-SYSTEM STABILITY

    公开(公告)号:US20200218326A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-07-09

    申请号:US16820307

    申请日:2020-03-16

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for isolation of sub-system resources (such as clocks, power, and reset) within independent domains. In one embodiment, each sub-system of a system has one or more dedicated power and clock domains that operate independent of other sub-system operation. For example, in an exemplary mobile device with cellular, WLAN and PAN connectivity, each such sub-system is connected to a common memory mapped bus function, yet can operate independently. The disclosed architecture advantageously both satisfies the power consumption limitations of mobile devices, and concurrently provides the benefits of memory mapped connectivity for high bandwidth applications on such mobile devices.

    METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZING UPLINK AND DOWNLINK TRANSACTIONS ON AN INTER-DEVICE COMMUNICATION LINK

    公开(公告)号:US20200174953A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-06-04

    申请号:US16780743

    申请日:2020-02-03

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a synchronized multi-directional transfer on an inter-processor communication (IPC) link. In one embodiment, the synchronized multi-directional transfer utilizes one or more buffers which are configured to accumulate data during a first state. The one or more buffers are further configured to transfer the accumulated data during a second state. Data is accumulated during a low power state where one or more processors are inactive, and the data transfer occurs during an operational state where the processors are active. Additionally, in some variants, the data transfer may be performed for currently available transfer resources, and halted until additional transfer resources are made available. In still other variants, one or more of the independently operable processors may execute traffic monitoring processes so as to optimize data throughput of the IPC link.

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