ELECTRICAL AND OPTICAL MEMORY ACCESS

摘要

A processor issues a command to a memory through an electrical memory link and performs a process according to the command through the electrical memory link. The processor issues a routing command to an optical circuit switch (OCS) through an OCS control line. In response to the routing command, the OCS establishes a routing of an optical memory link from the processor to the BDM. In response to the establishment of the optical memory link from the processor to the BDM, the processor (or a BDM (internal/dedicated) controller) switches from performing the process through the electrical memory link to performing a process through the optical memory link (continuously without an interruption between the successive processes). Corresponding systems are also disclosed herein.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
issuing, by a processor, a command to a data memory (BDM) through an electrical memory links; performing a process according to the command through the electrical memory link; issuing, by the processor, a routing command to an optical circuit switch (OCS) provided on an optical memory link between the processor and the BDM through an OCS control line between the processor and the OCS; establishing, by the OCS, a routing of the optical memory link from the processor to the BDM in response to the routing command; and in response to recognizing establishment of the optical memory link from the processor to the BDM, switching by the processor, or a BDM controller, from performing the process through the electrical memory link to performing a process through the optical memory link continuously without an interruption between the successive processes.