Method for sequencing execution of I/O command blocks in a chain structure by setting hold-off flags and configuring a counter in each I/O command block
US5923896A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 15, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 13, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 15, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/126
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An I/O command block, that is stored in a memory, includes information for connecting the I/O command block to other I/O command blocks in a chain structure. The I/O command block chain structure allows simultaneity of execution, provides a mechanism to inhibit and enable execution of an individual I/O command block, and a mechanism for establishing precedence in the sequence of execution of the I/O command blocks. This level of capability is provided by only information in the I/O command blocks within the chain. To make a chain, a chain control field, a next block pointer, and an offshoot block pointer are configured in each I/O command block in the chain. The process of making a chain is a method for specifying a sequence of execution of a chain of I/O command blocks stored in a memory and execution of each I/O command block using only information in the chain of I/O command blocks, because as explained above the chain controls the sequence and precedence of execution of the I/O command blocks in the chain.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.