Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Intrasystem connection – Bus interface architecture
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-07
2003-06-03
Dharia, Rupal (Department: 2181)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Intrasystem connection
Bus interface architecture
C710S001000, C710S040000, C710S105000, C709S211000, C714S006130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06574696
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to computers, and more particularly to data storage devices that include one or more automated loading subsystems that are designed to load/unload storage media into/from one or more data storage drives.
BACKGROUND
Providing users with large capacity data storage devices at a reasonably low cost has long been the goal of both disk drive and tape drive manufacturers. With the introduction of faster processors/data links, cheaper memory and more powerful software applications, there is an even greater need for large capacity data storage devices.
Magnetic disk drives tend to provide a relatively large capacity data storage capability. Conventional magnetic disk drives, however, are not well suited for longer-term data back up. For more secure, longer-term data back up, magnetic tape drives, removable magnetic disk drives, and/or optical disc drives tend to be better choices. With these data storage drives, a storage media, such as, for example, a tape cartridge, a magnetic disk, or optical disc, can be selectively accessed and later removed and perhaps stored in a safe location until and/or if needed.
Those users with the need to provide even more data storage capability, or perhaps ready access to data stored on storage media, can utilize one or more automated media loading devices (i.e., an automation controller) designed to automatically load/unload storage media into/from one or more data storage drives.
By way of example,
FIG. 1
is a block diagram depicting a conventional data storage system
20
having a host computer
22
, a storage drive
24
and an automation controller
26
. Host computer
22
is configured to send/receive data to/from data storage drive
24
, and to send/receive other commands to/from data storage drive
24
and/or automation controller
26
. Data storage drive
24
can be a magnetic tape drive, a magnetic disk drive, an optical disc drive, or the like. Data storage drive
24
is configured to selectively access at least one storage medium during a read or write operation.
Automation controller
26
is operatively configured to selectively position a storage media, as required for access by data storage drive
24
, in support of the read or write operation. To accomplish this, automation controller
26
typically includes mechanical mechanisms, such as, for example, robotics, that are configured to move the correct storage media into a proper position for reading from or writing to by data storage drive
24
.
As can be appreciated, there is an inherent need to carefully control the operation of data storage drive
24
and automation controller
26
during a read or write operation. Typically, automation controller
26
is controlled by commands provided from host computer
22
, and data storage drive
24
is controlled by commands from both host computer
22
and automation controller
26
. In such a configuration, automation controller
26
is essentially a “master” device and data storage drive
24
is essentially a “slave” device.
Commands from host computer
22
to automation controller
26
and data to/from data storage drive
24
are carried by link
27
. Link
27
is usually a small computer system interface (SCSI) link that also carries data during the read or write operation.
Commands from automation controller
26
to data storage drive
24
are typically carried over a standard serial interface
30
, such as, for example, an RS-422, or other like serial interface. Serial interface
30
typically allows automation controller
26
to co-coordinate activities with data storage drive
24
, for example, by obtaining information (e.g., status, etc.) from data storage driver
24
. This unidirectional information flow is one result of the master/slave relationship.
The configuration in
FIG. 1
, however, requires that both data storage drive
24
and automation controller
26
have SCSI interfaces. This requirement tends to increase the cost to the user. In more recent configurations, link
27
includes a Fibre Channel link. This requires that both data storage drive
24
and automation controller
26
have Fibre Channel interfaces, or that a bridge
28
or like device be introduced to bridge between Fibre Channel and SCSI interfaces in data storage drive
24
and automation controller
26
. Both of these solutions can be very expensive to the user. Alternatively, replacing existing data storage systems with newer models can also be extraordinarily expensive and time consuming.
Thus, there is a need to provide for lower cost methods and arrangements that allow users to continue to utilize existing data storage devices, while taking advantage of higher bandwidth links, such as, for example, Fibre Channel. Preferably, the improved methods and arrangements will extend existing interfaces without compromising backwards compatibility. Moreover, providing bi-directional control and bi-directional information flow would tend to improve the operation of the data storage device by providing for increased coordination and communication.
SUMMARY
The present invention provides improved methods and arrangements that allow users to continue to utilize existing data storage devices, while taking advantage of higher bandwidth links, such as, for example, Fibre Channel. The various improved methods and arrangements extend existing interfaces without compromising backwards compatibility, and allow for bidirectional control and/or bidirectional information flow.
Thus, for example, the above stated needs and others are met by a data storage device, in accordance with certain aspects of the present invention. The data storage device includes at least one data storage drive, an automation controller, and an enhanced interface.
The data storage drive can be operatively coupled to a computer or like device and arranged to perform a plurality of operations in response to one or more commands received from the computer. The automation controller is configured to physically provide the data storage drive with at least one data storage media. The enhanced interface operatively couples the data storage drive with the automation controller, such that the data storage drive can be selectively controlled by the automation controller and the automation controller can be selectively controlled by the data storage drive depending on the received commands. This arrangement also allows for bi-directional information flow.
In certain implementations, for example, the enhanced interface includes a serial interface and at least one additional line. Here, the additional line is configured to provide a directing signal from the data storage device to the automation controller. In other implementations, the serial interface is further configured to provide a directing signal from the data storage device to the automation controller. As a result of the enhanced interface, the data storage drive and automation controller are capable of being connected to the computer through a single host interface within the data storage drive. For example, the host interface can include a small computer system interface (SCSI) or a Fibre Channel interface to the computer. The data storage drive can include a magnetic tape drive, a magnetic disk, an optical disc drive, or the like.
In accordance with certain further aspects of the present invention, an enhanced interface is provided for use in a data storage device having at least one data storage drive configurable and an automation controller. The enhanced interface includes a first automation controller interface (ACI) portion configurable within a data storage drive, a second automation controller interface (ACI) portion configurable within an automation controller, and a serial interface connected between the first ACI and the second ACI. The serial interface is configurable to provide a directing signal from the data storage device to the automation controller such that the data storage drive can be selectively controlled by the automation controller and the automation controller can be selectively contr
Bartlett Paul F.
Culp Brad W.
Jerman Steve
Johnson Ladawan
Lang Robert J.
Hewlett--Packard Development Company, L.P.
Ortiz Benjamin
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