Methods for context switching within a disk controller
US6401149B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 12, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jun 4, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 12, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0674
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is related to methods and systems for context switching within a disk controller, allowing controller processors to efficiently switch between multiple tasks. In a first mode, a first memory is used to temporarily store data being transferred between a disk storage device coupled to the disk controller and a bus coupled to the disk controller. The transfer is managed by a disk controller processor. A first context is stored in a second memory coupled to the disk controller processor. In a second mode, the first memory is used to store a second context for later use by the disk controller processor. At least a portion of the first context information stored in the second memory is swapped with at least a portion of the second context information stored in the first memory at least partly in response to a first event. The swapped portion is then swapped back to the second memory in response to a second event.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.