Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory – Storage accessing and control – Shared memory area
Reexamination Certificate
2005-01-11
2005-01-11
Sparks, Donald (Department: 2189)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory
Storage accessing and control
Shared memory area
C711S114000, C714S006130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06842829
ABSTRACT:
A switched architecture is provided to allow controllers to manage physically independent memory systems as a single, large memory system. The switched architecture includes a path between switches of controllers for inter-controller access to memory systems and input/output interfaces in a redundant controller environment. Controller memory systems are physically independent of each other; however, they are logically managed as a single, large memory pool. Cache coherency is concurrently maintained by both controllers through a shared locking mechanism. Volume Logical Block Address extents or individual cache blocks can be locked for either shared or exclusive access by either controller. There is no strict ownership model to determine data access. Access is managed by the controller in the pair that receives the access request. When a controller is removed or fails, a surviving controller may take appropriate action to invalidate all cache data that physically resides in the failed or missing controller's memory systems. Cached write data may be mirrored between redundant controllers to prevent a single point of failure with respect to unwritten cached write data.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5606706 (1997-02-01), Takamoto et al.
patent: 5640530 (1997-06-01), Beardsley et al.
patent: 5742792 (1998-04-01), Yanai et al.
patent: 5895485 (1999-04-01), Loechel et al.
patent: 6044444 (2000-03-01), Ofek
patent: 6085333 (2000-07-01), DeKoning et al.
patent: 6101497 (2000-08-01), Ofek
patent: 6219751 (2001-04-01), Hodges
patent: 6321298 (2001-11-01), Hubis
patent: 6349357 (2002-02-01), Chong, Jr.
patent: 6442551 (2002-08-01), Ofek
patent: 6557079 (2003-04-01), Mason, Jr. et al.
Holt Keith W.
Nichols Charles F.
Chace Christian P.
LSI Logic Corporation
Sparks Donald
Yee & Associates
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus to manage independent memory systems as... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus to manage independent memory systems as..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus to manage independent memory systems as... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3385214