Flexible host interface controller architecture
First Claim
1. A host interface apparatus in a hard disk drive system connected to a host processor via a host processor interface, said hard disk drive system including a processor, storage media and a plurality of storage channel means for storing data on and retrieving data from said storage media, said host interface apparatus establishing communication paths between said host processor and said processor, between said host processor and each of said storage channel means, between said processor and each of said storage channel means and between said storage channel means, said host interface apparatus comprising:
- first means connected to said processor for receiving from said processor indicia specifying a communication path, said communication path being between said host processor and said processor, or between said host processor and one of said storage channel means, or between said processor and one of said storage channel means and or between two of said storage channel means said first means generating control signals in response to said indicia for forming said specified communication path and for the transfer of information along said specified communication path;
second means connected to said first means for forming said specified communication path in said host interface apparatus in response to said control signals received from said first means; and
third means connected to said first and second means for controlling communications between said host processor and said hard disk drive system in response to said control signals generated by said first means.
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Abstract
A high level controller for maintaining communication with a host processor via a host processor interface for establishing communication paths between the host processor interface, an internal processor and a plurality of storage means. A first means receives indicia from the internal processor where the indicia specifies one of the communication paths and generates control signals for forming the specific communication path requested. A second means receives the control signals from the first means and forms the requested communication path. A third means is connected to the first and second means for controlling the communication of the system with the host processor interface in accordance with control signals generated by the first means. In this manner various data paths for communication between the host interface, internal processor and a plurality of storage means may be adaptably specified and formed to make optimum use of the system.
58 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A host interface apparatus in a hard disk drive system connected to a host processor via a host processor interface, said hard disk drive system including a processor, storage media and a plurality of storage channel means for storing data on and retrieving data from said storage media, said host interface apparatus establishing communication paths between said host processor and said processor, between said host processor and each of said storage channel means, between said processor and each of said storage channel means and between said storage channel means, said host interface apparatus comprising:
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first means connected to said processor for receiving from said processor indicia specifying a communication path, said communication path being between said host processor and said processor, or between said host processor and one of said storage channel means, or between said processor and one of said storage channel means and or between two of said storage channel means said first means generating control signals in response to said indicia for forming said specified communication path and for the transfer of information along said specified communication path; second means connected to said first means for forming said specified communication path in said host interface apparatus in response to said control signals received from said first means; and third means connected to said first and second means for controlling communications between said host processor and said hard disk drive system in response to said control signals generated by said first means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification