Apple patents I/O agent circuit for managing memory access
Apple has filed a patent application for an I/O agent circuit that manages how computer components access memory. The circuit receives read requests from peripheral parts and asks a memory controller for exclusive ownership of specific data blocks, ensuring the data is not stored elsewhere while the component reads it.
In the filing’s own words
Techniques are disclosed relating to an I/O agent circuit of a computer system. The I/O agent circuit may receive, from a peripheral component, a set of transaction requests to perform a set of read transactions that are directed to one or more of a plurality of cache lines. The I/O agent circuit may issue, to a first memory controller circuit configured to manage access to a first one of the plurality of cache lines, a request for exclusive read ownership of the first cache line such that data of the first cache line is not cached outside of the memory and the I/O agent circuit in a valid state. The I/O agent circuit may receive exclusive read ownership of the first cache line, including receiving the data of the first cache line. The I/O agent circuit may then perform the set of read transactions with respect to the data.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1 - 20. (canceled)
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- I/O Agent
- Publication number
- US20260277804A1
- Application number
- 19676102
- Filed
- May 13, 2026
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 10
- Claims
- 21
Classified under
G06F 12/063 Physics & computingG06F 9/467 Physics & computingG06F 12/0835 Physics & computingG06F 12/0891 Physics & computingG06F 13/1668 Physics & computingMore from Apple in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.