Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-10
2002-05-21
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S689000, C248S634000, C312S223200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06392892
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to computer data storage and, in particular, to a network attached data storage system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A typical computer system includes a processor for executing instructions, a memory for storing the instructions executed by the processor and the results of the execution of instructions, an input peripheral that permits a user to interact with the system (e.g., keyboard, mouse etc.), an output peripheral that also allows a user to interact with the system (e.g., monitor, printer etc.), and a storage peripheral (e.g., disk drive, tape drive etc.) that provides data storage beyond that provided by the memory. In operation, the memory typically contains at least portions of two programs, an operating system program and an application program (e.g., a spreadsheet program). The operating system program provides a number of functions, including functions associated with the management of files, directories of files, and the input and output peripherals associated with computer system.
On a larger scale, computer systems are commonly connected to one another to form computer networks. Common networks include local area networks (LANs) in which the computer systems are networked together are distributed over a relatively small area, such as within an office or a building. Another common network is a wide area network (WAN) in which the computer systems that are part of the network are distributed over a relatively large area. As a consequence, third party communication systems (e.g., telephone and satellite) are commonly required to implement a wide area network.
A fundamental advantage of a computer network is that one computer system can write data to or read data from a memory device associated with another computer system within the network. Typically, the transfer of data from one computer system in a network to another computer system in the network commences with the operating system of the computer system that wants to initiate the transfer data issuing a request that is conveyed over the network communication infrastructure (copper cable, fiber optic cable, radio channel etc.) to the other computer system or systems in the network. The operating system associated with the target computer system (the computer system to or from which data is to be transferred) responds to the request by issuing the appropriate command to the memory device to or from which data is to be transferred. This system for transferring data between computer systems in a network has worked adequately for some time because the network infrastructure was considerably slower in transferring data between the computer systems than the operating system associated with the target computer system differently, the target computer system and, in particular, the operating system of the target computer system was capable of causing data to be transferred to other computer systems in the network at a speed that substantially utilized the available bandwidth of the network infrastructure.
Recently, however, the bandwidth or speed of network infrastructure has increased dramatically. As a consequence, the network infrastructure is no longer the slowest element in the transfer of data between one computer system and another computer system in a computer network. Instead, the target computer system and, more specifically, the operating system of the target computer system has become the slowest element. To elaborate, because the operating system associated with the target computer system is typically processing requests from one or more application programs running on the system, managing the peripherals, and performing other tasks, the operating system can only devote a portion of its time to processing data transfers with other computer systems in the network. Further, the time that the operating system can devote to such transfers is now, usually insufficient to fully utilize the bandwidth or speed at which the network infrastructure is capable of transporting data.
As a consequence of the operating system limitation associated with transferring data between computer systems in a network, a new type of storage system or device has evolved, namely, a network attached storage device. A network attached storage system or device has its own address on the network and is, therefore, directly accessible by the other computer systems in the network. Consequently, when a computer system in a network needs to transfer data to or from a network attached storage device, there is no need to go through an operating system associated with another computer system that is busy processing requests from application programs, peripherals and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a network storage attached system or device that, in one embodiment, provides a high data density by being able to mount a number of data storage devices, such as disk drives, across the width of the system enclosure and provide the ability to access the devices via the front side of the enclosure. Presently, network attached storage devices employ enclosures that come in standardized widths that allow the system to be mounted in a rack that typically includes several other devices. The rack allows several systems or devices to be stacked one on top of another and thereby maximizes the use of available floor space in computer centers and the like. The invention includes a plurality of mounting bays that extend across the width of the enclosure. At least one of the mounting bays includes a rail that extends from either the top or bottom of the enclosure and a carriage for holding a data storage device, such as disk drive. The carriage includes a slot that is adapted to engage the rail in a sliding manner that allows a storage device that is attached to the carriage to be inserted into and removed from the enclosure via the front side of the enclosure. When a storage device is attached to the carriage and the carriage is engaged with the rail, at least one of the rail and carriage are substantially located between the storage device and either the top or bottom surface of the enclosure. In one embodiment, both the rail and the carriage are substantially located between the storage device and either the top or bottom surface of the enclosure. In the case of an 1U enclosure with a standardized width of approximately 480 mm, the mounting bay structure allows four, 3½″ disk drives (i.e. disk drives with 3½″ diameter disks but housings that have widths of approximately 4″) to be established across the width of the enclosure. Presently known network storage devices are only capable of placing three such disk drives across the width of such an enclosure. The mounting bay structure is readily extended to 2U and 3U enclosures that respectively have two and three times the height of a 1U enclosure. Consequently, a 2U enclosure can accommodate eight, 3½″ disk drives, and a 3U enclosure can accommodate twelve, 3½″ disk drives. The ability to insert and remove a carriage from the enclosure via an opening in the front side of the enclosure allows data storage devices to be moved into and out of the enclosure without having to remove the cover of the enclosure or otherwise disassemble the enclosure. Further, by avoiding such disassembly, the need to remove the system from any rack in which it is mounted is also avoided. Further, the carriage can be fixed in the enclosure with a latching system that relieves the user from having to use tools to install or remove the carriage.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a network attached storage system that is able to detect when a data storage device is likely to be removed from the system enclosure so that action can be taken to prevent the loss of any data being transferred to or from the device. In one embodiment, the system includes an enclosure, a mounting bay that includes a receiving structure and a carriage for holding a data storage device, and a latch w
Sobolewski Zbigniew S.
Spiers John
Duong Hung Van
Holme Roberts & Owen LLP
Kulish, Esq. Christopher J.
LeftHand Networks, Inc.
Picard Leo P.
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