Method and apparatus for data storage array tracking
US5696768A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 10, 1996 |
| Grant date | Dec 9, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 10, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F5/10
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A data storage array is provided having a number, n, of sequential data storage areas for the storage of data. A valid status array including n bits is provided where there is a one to one correspondence between the bits of the valid status array and the data storage areas of the data storage array. When valid data are written into a data storage area, the status bit of the valid status array corresponding to this data storage area is set to indicate that valid data are present. When data are read out of the data storage area, the corresponding status bit is cleared indicating the absence of valid data. If the data storage array is one that is written to in a random access manner and read from sequentially, as a queue, then the valid status array would indicate the presence of valid data at the head of the queue for the data storage array.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.