Method and system for pipelining the processing of channel command words
First Claim
1. A method for pipelining the processing of a plurality of channel command words in a channel program executing in a data processing system, said data processing system comprising a channel coupled to a control unit, said method comprising the steps of:
- verifying a connection between said channel and said control unit, said verifying step including determining whether pipelining is to occur;
sending a plurality of commands from said channel to said control unit when pipelining is to occur, each of said plurality of commands being capable of being sent prior to said channel receiving a response to any one of said plurality of commands; and
sending a response from said control unit to said channel for each of said plurality of commands received by said control unit.
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Abstract
A method and system for pipelining the processing of channel command words is provided. The channel is permitted to send commands and data to the control unit for several channel command words associated with a channel program without having to wait for responses from the control unit for prior commands sent. The channel can pipeline several commands to the control unit and the control unit can then process the commands in the order it receives them. The control unit sends responses to the channel for each command it receives acknowledging receipt of the commands.
275 Citations
80 Claims
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1. A method for pipelining the processing of a plurality of channel command words in a channel program executing in a data processing system, said data processing system comprising a channel coupled to a control unit, said method comprising the steps of:
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verifying a connection between said channel and said control unit, said verifying step including determining whether pipelining is to occur; sending a plurality of commands from said channel to said control unit when pipelining is to occur, each of said plurality of commands being capable of being sent prior to said channel receiving a response to any one of said plurality of commands; and sending a response from said control unit to said channel for each of said plurality of commands received by said control unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for pipelining the processing of a plurality of channel command words in a channel program executing in a data processing system, said data processing system comprising a channel coupled to a control unit, said method comprising the steps of:
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sending a first command from said channel to said control unit, said first command being retrieved from a first channel command word; and sending a second command from said channel to said control unit, said second command being retrieved from a second channel command word and said second command being sent to said control unit prior to said channel receiving a response from said control unit to said first command. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. A system for pipelining the processing of a plurality of channel command words in a channel program executing in a data processing system, said data processing system comprising a channel coupled to a control unit, said system comprising:
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means for sending a first command from said channel to said control unit, said first command being retrieved from a first channel command word; and means for sending a second command from said channel to said control unit, said second command being retrieved from a second channel command word and said second command being sent to said control unit prior to said channel receiving a response from said control unit to said first command. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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42. A system for pipelining the processing of a plurality of channel command words in a channel program executing in a data processing system, said data processing system comprising a channel coupled to a control unit, said system comprising:
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means for verifying a connection between said channel and said control unit, said verifying means including means for determining whether pipelining is to occur; means for sending a plurality of commands from said channel to said control unit when pipelining is to occur, each of said plurality of commands being capable of being sent prior to said channel receiving a response to any one of said plurality of commands; and means for sending a response from said control unit to said channel for each of said plurality of commands received by said control unit. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A method for pipelining the processing of a plurality of channel command words in a channel program executing in a data processing system, said data processing system comprising a channel coupled to a control unit, said method comprising the steps of:
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sending a plurality of commands from said channel to said control unit; and sending a response from said control unit to said channel for each of said plurality of commands received by said control unit, wherein one or more of said responses is sent prior to said control unit receiving a number of commands equal to a command count, thereby allowing commands to be sent from said channel to said control unit while responses are sent from said control unit to said channel without an interruption in processing. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77)
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78. A system for pipelining the processing of a plurality of channel command words in a channel program executing in a data processing system, said data processing system comprising a channel coupled to a control unit, said system comprising:
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means for sending a plurality of commands from said channel to said control unit; and means for sending a response from said control unit to said channel for each of said plurality of commands received by said control unit, wherein one or more of said responses is sent prior to said control unit receiving a number of commands equal to a command count, thereby allowing commands to be sent from said channel to said control unit while responses are sent from said control unit to said channel without an interruption in processing. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80)
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Specification