Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for reliably storing data to be written to a peripheral device subsystem using plural controllers

US5712970A · kind A · utility

39Cited by
10References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 28, 1995
Grant dateJan 27, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 28, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F11/202
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for reliably storing data to be written to a peripheral device subsystem. The method disclosed includes the following steps. A first peripheral device controller, which includes a cache memory, receives write data from a central processor, stores it in its cache memory, and transmits a copy of it to a second peripheral device controller via a communications path. The second controller, which also includes a cache memory, stores the copy of the write data transmitted to it in its cache memory. Meanwhile the first controller processes the write data. In the event the first controller fails, the second controller processes the write data stored in its cache memory. The apparatus disclosed includes a central processor which generates write data. A first peripheral device controller, which includes a cache memory, is coupled to the central processor. A second peripheral device controller, which also includes a cache memory, is coupled to the first controller via a communications path. The first controller includes circuitry for storing the write data in its cache memory, transmitting a copy of the write data to the secondary controller via the communi…

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