System for controlling data flow between plurality of host interfaces and drive interfaces using controller for select unoccupied interfaces after preparation of read/write operation is complete
US5603062A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 8, 1993 |
| Grant date | Feb 11, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 8, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0673
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An external storage system is connected to a host system. A controller unit interposed between disk drives and the host system has a large capacity buffer memory with a battery providing non-volatile storage, a plurality of host interfaces and a plurality of drive interfaces. All the accesses made to the disk drives from the host system are realized via the buffer memory which allows a high-speed access. Read/write processing performed for the buffer memory by the host system is executed asynchronously with read/write processing performed between the buffer memory and the disk drives. The drive interface and the host interface area released during a period in which operation of the disk drive is waited for and recoupled upon data transfer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.