Method and apparatus for controlling media bays in a computer system
US6121967A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 4, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 19, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 4, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S715/97
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Improved techniques for controlling multiple media bays (expansion bays) of a computer system are disclosed. Status information (and possibly one or more control operations) for devices in media bays of a computer system can be displayed, for example, to identify devices that occupy the media bays and to indicate the removability of those devices. Software locks discourage a user from improper removal of media bay devices in a multiple media bay computer system. The software locks work not only during hot removal of locked media bay devices but also removal of locked media devices during a sleep state of the computer system. Also, a centralized media bay data storage area can be provided as well as a media bay driver for each media bay to permits easy access to information pertaining to the one or more media bays of the computer system. The centralized media bay data storage area can store information describing the current configuration of the media bays, including the number of media bays, contents of each media bay, etc.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.