In the Command Chaining Mode, at any time after the first command is issued, the processor can issue a second "Enable Transmit from Page fnn" command. The COM20020 stores the fact that the second transmit command was issued, along with the page number.
After the first transmission is completed, the COM20020 updates the Status Register by setting the TTA bit, which generates an interrupt. The interrupt service routine should read the Status Register. At this point, the TTA bit will be found to be a logic "1" and the TMA (Transmit Message Acknowledge) bit will tell the processor whether the transmission was successful. After reading the Status Register, the "Clear Transmit Interrupt" command is issued, thus resetting the TTA bit and clearing
the interrupt. Note that only the "Clear Transmit Interrupt" command will clear the TTA bit and the interrupt. It is not necessary, however, to clear the bit or the interrupt right away because the status of the transmit operation is double buffered in order to retain the results of the first transmission for analysis by the processor. This information will remain in the Status Register until the "Clear Transmit Interrupt" command is issued. Note that the interrupt will remain active until the command is issued, and the second interrupt will not occur until the first interrupt is acknowledged. The COM20020 guarantees a minimum of 200nS interrupt inactive time interval between interrupts. The TMA bit is also double buffered to reflect whether the appropriate transmission was a success. The TMA bit should only be considered valid after the corresponding TTA bit has been set to a logic "1". The TMA bit never causes an interrupt.
When the token is received again, the second transmission will be automatically initiated after the first is completed by using the stored "Enable Transmit from Page fnn" command. The operation is as if a new "Enable Transmit from Page fnn" command has just been issued. After the first Transmit status bits are cleared,
the Status Register will again be updated with the results of the second transmission and a second interrupt resulting from the second
transmission will occur. The COM20020 guarantees a minimum of 200ns interrupt inactive time interval before the following edge.
The Transmitter Available (TA) bit of the Interrupt Mask Register now masks only the TTA bit of the Status Register, not the TA bit as in the
In Command Chaining mode mode, the "Disable Transmitter" command will cancel the oldest transmission. This permits canceling a packet destined for a node not ready to receive. If both packets should be canceled, two "Disable Transmitter" commands should be issued.
Receive Command Chaining
Like the Transmit Command Chaining operation, the processor can issue two consecutive "Enable Receive from Page fnn" commands.
After the first packet is received into the first specified page, the TRI bit of the Status Register will be set to logic "1", causing an interrupt. Again, the interrupt need not be serviced immediately. Typically, the interrupt service routine will read the Status Register. At this point, the RI bit will be found to be a logic "1". After reading the Status Register, the "Clear Receive Interrupt" command should be issued, thus resetting the TRI bit and clearing the interrupt. Note that only the "Clear Receive Interrupt" command will clear the TRI bit and the interrupt. It is not necessary, however, to clear the bit or the interrupt right away because
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