Peripheral-controller for multiple disk drive modules having different protocols and operating conditions
First Claim
1. In a data transfer network wherein a single peripheral-controller manages data transfers between a main host computer which generates I/O data transfer commands for data transfers with a plurality of individual disk drive unit storage modules having different protocols and different operating parameters, the peripheral-controller comprising:
- (a) host adapter control means for receving and storing a group of "X" I/O data transfer commands, where "X" represents the number of disk drive modules serviced by said peripheral controller, said host adapter control means including;
(a1) connection means for connecting data transfer channels and control data channels to said host computer;
(a2) a host adapter buffer membory means for storage of said I/O commands and for storage of data words being transferred;
(a3) host adapter sequencer means for executing data word transfers between said host computer and said host adapter buffer memory means;
(a4) peripheral sequencer means for synchronizing data word transfers between said host adapter buffer memory means and a formatter control means, said peripheral sequencer means connected to said host adapter sequencer means and to a formatter sequencer means;
(a5) connection means between said host adapter control means and said formatter control means including a channel for transfer of data words and control data;
(b) said formatter control means for receiving control data and address data from said host adapter control means, to provide selection of a specific cylinder, track and sector on a selected one of said plurality of disk drive modules, said formatter control means including;
(b1) a formatter buffer memory means for storing data words received either from said host computer or from said selected disk drive module;
(b2) said formatter sequencer means, synchronized by said peripheral sequencer means, for executing data word transfers from said formatter buffer memory means to said host adapter buffer memory means, and for exeucting data word transfers between said formatter buffer memory means and said selected disk drive module via a disk drive module interface control means;
(b3) means for communicating with a disk drive module interface control means, said communicating means including;
(b3a) Read data means for receiving data words from said selected disk module into a conversion means for data word storage into said formatter buffer memory means;
(b3b) Write data means for receiving data words from said conversion means for transmittal to said disk drive module interface control means;
(b3c) said conversion means for executing serial-to-parallel and parallel-to-serial conversion of data words;
(b3d) register-driver means for transmitting control signals to said disk drive module interface control means;
(b3e) disk drive module select signal means for enabling connection to said selected disk drive module;
(b3f) channel connection means for said formatter control means to said disk drive module interface means and to said disk drive modules for enabling transfer of data words and control words therebetween;
(c) disk drive module interface control means for enabling connection of said selected disk drive module to said formatter control means, said interface control means including;
(c1) select logic means for disabling connection to said selected disk drive module when said select logic means receives more than one disk drive select signal, said logic means including;
(c1a) means for generating a disk drive select signal in response to instructions in said I/O command stored in said host adapter control means.
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Abstract
A storage module device-data link processor provides for management of data transfer operations between a main host computer system and up to eight separate disk drive units. The data link processor provides a peripheral interface circuit unit (for selection of a given disk drive unit) and which is connected to a formatter circuit unit and a host adapter access circuit unit. The formatter unit establishes the required protocol format for addressing and accessing a particular cylinder, a particular head track and a particular sector within the selected disk drive unit. The host access unit connects the data link processor to the main host computer while also managing execution of the data transfer operations, including error correction and integrity checking.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. In a data transfer network wherein a single peripheral-controller manages data transfers between a main host computer which generates I/O data transfer commands for data transfers with a plurality of individual disk drive unit storage modules having different protocols and different operating parameters, the peripheral-controller comprising:
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(a) host adapter control means for receving and storing a group of "X" I/O data transfer commands, where "X" represents the number of disk drive modules serviced by said peripheral controller, said host adapter control means including; (a1) connection means for connecting data transfer channels and control data channels to said host computer; (a2) a host adapter buffer membory means for storage of said I/O commands and for storage of data words being transferred; (a3) host adapter sequencer means for executing data word transfers between said host computer and said host adapter buffer memory means; (a4) peripheral sequencer means for synchronizing data word transfers between said host adapter buffer memory means and a formatter control means, said peripheral sequencer means connected to said host adapter sequencer means and to a formatter sequencer means; (a5) connection means between said host adapter control means and said formatter control means including a channel for transfer of data words and control data; (b) said formatter control means for receiving control data and address data from said host adapter control means, to provide selection of a specific cylinder, track and sector on a selected one of said plurality of disk drive modules, said formatter control means including; (b1) a formatter buffer memory means for storing data words received either from said host computer or from said selected disk drive module; (b2) said formatter sequencer means, synchronized by said peripheral sequencer means, for executing data word transfers from said formatter buffer memory means to said host adapter buffer memory means, and for exeucting data word transfers between said formatter buffer memory means and said selected disk drive module via a disk drive module interface control means; (b3) means for communicating with a disk drive module interface control means, said communicating means including; (b3a) Read data means for receiving data words from said selected disk module into a conversion means for data word storage into said formatter buffer memory means; (b3b) Write data means for receiving data words from said conversion means for transmittal to said disk drive module interface control means; (b3c) said conversion means for executing serial-to-parallel and parallel-to-serial conversion of data words; (b3d) register-driver means for transmitting control signals to said disk drive module interface control means; (b3e) disk drive module select signal means for enabling connection to said selected disk drive module; (b3f) channel connection means for said formatter control means to said disk drive module interface means and to said disk drive modules for enabling transfer of data words and control words therebetween; (c) disk drive module interface control means for enabling connection of said selected disk drive module to said formatter control means, said interface control means including; (c1) select logic means for disabling connection to said selected disk drive module when said select logic means receives more than one disk drive select signal, said logic means including; (c1a) means for generating a disk drive select signal in response to instructions in said I/O command stored in said host adapter control means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a data transfer network wherein a single peripheral-controller manages data transfers between a main host computer, which generates I/O data transfer commands, and a plurality of individual disk drive unit storage modules having different protocols and operating parameters, the peripheral-controller comprising:
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(a) first control means for receiving and storing a group of said I/O data transfer commands and for executing data transfers between said host computer and a host adapter buffer memory means in said first control means, said first control means including; (a1) a first channel of connection between said host computer and said first host adapter control means for transfer of control data and data words; (a2) said first host adapter buffer memory means for storage of said I/O data transfer commands and for storage of data words being transferred; (a3) first and second sequencer means for respectively executing data word transfers between said host computer and said first host adapter buffer memory means and for executing data word transfers between said first host adapter buffer memory means and a second formatter control means; (b) second formatter control means for receiving control data and address data for selection of a specific cylinder, track, and sector on a selected one of said plurality of disk drive modules, and including; (b1) second formatter buffer memory means for storing data words received either from said host computer or from said selected disk drive module; (b2) formatter sequencer means for executing data word transfers between said second formatter buffer memory means and said first host adapter buffer memory means, and for executing data word transfers between said second formatter buffer memory means and a selected disk drive module; (b3) second channel connection means for providing communication of control data and word data between a disk drive module interface control means and said second formatter control means, said second channel connection means including; (b3a) means for transmitting word data between said second formatter buffer memory means and said selected disk drive module through a conversion means; (b3b) said conversion means for executing serial-to-parallel and parallel-to-serial conversion of data words; (b3c) means for transmitting control signals to said disk drive module interface means; (b3d) disk drive module select signal means for enabling connection to said selected disk drive module; (c) said disk drive module interface control means for enabling connection of a selected disk drive module to said section formatter control means.
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Specification