Patent · US Active

System and method for controlling buffer memory overflow and underflow conditions in storage controllers

US8032674B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
169References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 19, 2004
Grant dateOct 4, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 12, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F3/0676
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for maintaining flow control in a buffer memory coupled to a storage controller is provided. The storage controller includes, first and second counters that are used to monitor when data is read from a buffer memory and when data is transferred from the buffer memory to the host. The method includes, incrementing first and second counter values when data is placed in the buffer memory; decrementing a first counter value when data is read from the buffer memory; and decrementing the second counter value when data is sent to a host. The method further includes, pausing a first channel logic between a transport module and a storage disk when there is no data in the buffer memory; and pausing a second channel logic between a disk and the buffer if there is no space in the buffer memory.

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