System for multi-threaded disk drive operation in a computer sys

Details System for multi-threaded disk drive operation in a computer sys System for multi-threaded disk drive operation in a computer sys

1996-05-31

1999-05-18

Lee, Thomas C.

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory

Storage accessing and control

Hierarchical memories

711150, G06F13/00

Patent

active

059059109

ABSTRACT:
A system for multi-threaded disk drive interrupt processing uses a flag register containing encoded data bits to indicate the current status of at least two disk drives. Instructions in a basic input-output system (BIOS) causes a central processing unit (CPU) to execute instructions to transfer data to the two disk drives. The system permits both disk drives to be simultaneously active. The system can issue commands to a first disk drive and, while the first disk drive is responding to those commands, issue additional commands to a second disk drive to prepare for additional data transfers. When one of the two disk drives generates an interrupt, the system can determine which disk drive generated the interrupt and process the interrupt. If the operating system is a multi-threaded operating system, the present invention interrupts the ongoing thread to process the interrupt. The present invention then returns control to CPU to the ongoing thread so that it may complete the ongoing thread before transferring data to or from the disk drive that generated the interrupt. The system may apportion a data file into segments that are stored alternately on the first disk drive and the second disk drive. Overall data transfer efficiency is improved by having the second disk drive responding to commands while the first disk drive is transferring data. During a subsequent transfer of a portion of a data file to the second disk drive, the first disk drive may be responding to commands for the transfer of additional portions of the data file. Thus, the system alternately transfers portions of data to or from the first and second disk drives.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4888691 (1989-12-01), George et al.
patent: 5058004 (1991-10-01), Ravid
patent: 5237466 (1993-08-01), Glaser et al.
patent: 5239445 (1993-08-01), Parks et al.
patent: 5421014 (1995-05-01), Bucher
patent: 5459872 (1995-10-01), Connell et al.
patent: 5581715 (1996-12-01), Verinsky et al.
patent: 5642516 (1997-06-01), Hedayat et al.
patent: 5694604 (1997-12-01), Reiffin
patent: 5701513 (1997-12-01), Kaneko
patent: 5708848 (1998-01-01), Sangveraphunsiri et al.
patent: 5724539 (1998-03-01), Riggle et al.
patent: 5754759 (1998-05-01), Clarke et al.
patent: 5790870 (1998-08-01), Hausauer et al.
patent: 5819112 (1998-10-01), Kusters

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

System for multi-threaded disk drive operation in a computer sys does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with System for multi-threaded disk drive operation in a computer sys, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System for multi-threaded disk drive operation in a computer sys will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1768458