Method and apparatus for coupling data processing systems
US5317739A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 1992 |
| Grant date | May 31, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/546
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A Structured External Storage (SES) device/processor is connected to two or more DP systems, thereby loosely coupling the systems. The SES is capable of holding data objects of two distinct types (List objects and Cache objects), and communicates commands and command responses with the systems using a message protocol. A support facility within a processor on which a system is executing receives status indications from the SES without interrupting mainline system execution. Within the SES, a serialization mechanism allows more than one command to execute in parallel without loss of data object integrity, or command consistency. A forward completion mechanism sends to systems early notification of completion of certain commands, without permitting results inconsistent with this notification to be obtained by the systems. And a restart mechanism permits interrupted commands to be restarted by the initiating system or, in certain cases, by another system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.