Universal network to device bridge chip that enables network directly attached device

• US 20060069884A1
• Filed: 02/27/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zhe Khi Pak
• Original Assignee: Zhe Khi Pak
• Inventors: Kim, Han-Gyoo, Lim, Han-Kyu
• Application Number:
  US11/068,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20060069884A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/154
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/283 Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network

Abstract

Network bridge circuit, logic, chip, and method that enables a host computer to access a storage device or a plurality of storage devices directly from the network. Hardware architecture includes protocol layer handler, DMA, storage device interface, command execution unit, and optional error handler. Bridge circuit logic implemented on a single chip in hard wired fashion without resorting to a programmable architecture. Generic command wrapper in which new commands added later time than the time of fabrication of the hardware chip can be executed without revising the hardware chip. Bridge apparatus enabling direct access by at least one host to a raw storage device over network, comprising: command execution unit, memory controller, network interface, device interface controller, and wherein bridge apparatus couples the raw storage device to network directly such that host accesses raw storage device as if local storage device even though only available over network.

Claims

15-1. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the network protocol layer handler further includes means for managing multiple concurrent connections with the device by a plurality of hosts.

56. A method for enabling direct access by at least one host to a raw storage device over a network, the method comprising:

executing command packets received from the at least one host;

coupling the network with the command execution unit using a interface protocol layer handler;

coupling the command execution unit with the raw storage device; and

the coupling of the raw storage device to the network being direct such that the host accesses the raw storage device as if the raw storage device is local storage device.