Method and apparatus for passing messages through a bus-to-bus bridge while maintaining ordering

摘要

An apparatus and method for passing messages through a bus-to-bus bridge while maintaining ordering. The method comprises passing messages into a message container in the bus bridge without using the bridge buffer, setting a flag that tracks all the writes in the write queue ahead of when the message was put into the message container, blocking the receiving device on the bus connected to the bridge from accessing the message container until the flag is cleared, and clearing the flag when all the writes put into the write queue ahead of when the flag was set have been written to local memory on the receiving bus, then allowing the device on the receiving bus that is the intended recipient to receive the message.