Method and structure for automated switching between multiple contexts in a storage subsystem target device
US6247040A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jun 12, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0689
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a storage target device controller capable of managing multiple command contexts, methods and associated apparatus are provided for automatically managing the plurality of contexts using a state machine model. The state machine model is operable on a target device controller having an active context register set for processing of the presently active transfer on the host channel and an inactive context register set for storing an inactive context. The active context register set and inactive context register set are rapidly and automatically swapped by operation of the state machine model to resume or start processing of an inactive context. Additional inactive contexts are stored in a buffer memory associated with the target device controller. The inactive context register set is automatically stored into a selected one of the additional inactive contexts or loaded from a selected one of the additional inactive contexts by operation of the state machine model of the present invention. The state machine model performs appropriate swap, load, and store operations for contexts in accordance with priorities to improve performance of the target device. The highest priority is an aut…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.