Patent · US Expired

Disk array system

US5530830A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
4References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 6, 1993
Grant dateJun 25, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 6, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F3/0673
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A disk array system having a plurality of disk units includes an upper-level data transfer controller for controlling transfer of data to and from an upper-level apparatus, a data buffer for temporarily storing therein data from the upper-level apparatus, a drive data transfer controller for controlling the data transfer between the buffer and the units, and a main microprocessor for controlling the the transfer controllers. When transferring data, the microprocessor indicates an address to be used in the buffer and a distribution mode of data to the data transfer controllers so that the data transfer is conducted thereafter without intervention of the microprocessor. During the transfer, the microprocessor can generate information for a subsequent data transfer to indicate the information to the transfer controllers. After a data transfer is terminated, the pertinent transfer controller can immediately execute the next data transfer, which increases the utilization efficiency of the data bus.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.