Hard disk drive controller employing a plurality of microprocessors

• US 5,610,808 A
• Filed: 09/29/1994
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Conner Peripherals Incorporated (Whitehouse Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sander, Charles M., Clay, Donald W., Keeler, Stanton M., Squires, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Paul P.
• Application Number:
  US08/315,129
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 364/131, 364/133, 364/138, 395/325, 395/725, 395/275, 395/438, 395/821, 360/69, 360/71, 360/97.01, 360/98.01, 371/10.1
• US Class Current: 700/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0613 in relation to throughput
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0658 Controller construction arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0673 Single storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0676 Magnetic disk device
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/5578 Multiple actuators addressing the same disk, e.g. to improve data rate or access rate

Abstract

A controller in a hard disk drive system for controlling the transfer of data and control signals between a plurality of host processors and the disk drive system. The disk drive system including storage media, at least one transducer for recording data on and retrieving data from the storage media and an actuator for moving the transducers with respect to the storage media. The controller includes a programmed first microprocessor operating under control of a first operating system stored in a first memory unit associated with the first microprocessor for controlling the recording of data on and the retrieval of data from the storage media, the controlling of the actuator to locate the transducer at and to maintain the transducer at a specified location with respect to the storage media. The controller includes a programmed second microprocessor operating under control of a second operating system stored in a second memory unit associated with the second microprocessor for controlling the transfer of data from a requesting host processor to the disk drive system and the transfer of data recovered from the storage media to a requesting host processor and for generating and communicating parameters to the first microprocessor for defining operations to be performed by the first microprocessor. The second microprocessor operates independently of and concurrently with the first microprocessor and the first microprocessor operates independently of and concurrently with the second microprocessor in exercising operations defined by the parameters received from the second microprocessor.

Claims

1. A controller within a hard disk drive for controlling the transfer of data and control signals between a plurality of host processors and said disk drive, said disk drive including storage media, at least one transducer for recording data on and retrieving data from said storage media and an actuator for moving said transducers with respect to said storage media, said controller comprising:

a programmed first microprocessor operating under control of a first operating system stored in a first memory unit associated with said first microprocessor for controlling the recording of data on said storage media and the retrieval of data from said storage media, the positioning of said actuator to locate said transducer at a specified location with respect, to said storage media and for maintaining the position of a said transducer at a specified location with respect to said storage media;

a programmed second microprocessor operating under control of a second operating system stored in a second memory unit associated with said second microprocessor for controlling the transfer of data from a requesting host processor of said plurality of host processors to said disk drive and the transfer of data recovered from said storage media to a requesting host processor of said plurality of host processor and for generating and communicating parameters to said first microprocessor for defining operations to be performed by said first microprocessor;

where said second microprocessor operates independently of and concurrently with said first microprocessor and said first microprocessor operates independently of and concurrently with said second microprocessor in exercising operations defined by said parameters received from said second microprocessor.

2. A controller in a hard disk drive system for controlling the transfer of data and control signals between a plurality of host processors and said disk drive system, said disk drive system including storage media, at least one transducer for recording data on and retrieving data from said storage media and an actuator for moving said transducers with respect to said storage media, said controller comprising:

a programmed first microprocessor operating under control of a first operating system stored in a first memory unit associated with said first microprocessor for controlling the recording of data on said storage media and the retrieval of data from said storage media, the positioning of said actuator to locate said transducer at a specified location with respect to said storage media and for maintaining the position of a said transducer at a specified location with respect to said storage media, wherein said first microprocessor further comprises;

error handling means for detecting and correcting error in data recovered from said storage media; and

reporting means for reporting the error and the error location to said second microprocessor;

a programmed second microprocessor operating under control of a second operating system stored in a second memory unit associated with said second microprocessor for controlling the transfer of data from a requesting host processor of said plurality of host processors to said disk drive system and the transfer of data recovered from said storage media to a requesting host processor of said plurality of host processors and for generating and communicating parameters to said first microprocessor for defining operations to be performed by said first microprocessor wherein said second microprocessor further comprises;

error history means for performing statistical and historical error record keeping for error detected by said first microprocessor and said second microprocessor;

error correction means for recovering from errors detected by said first microprocessor that was not correctable by said first error processor; and

error detection means for detecting an error in the transfer of data internal to said disk drive system other than an error detected in the recovered data from said storage media by said error handling means of said first microprocessor; and

where said second microprocessor operates independently of and concurrently with said first microprocessor and said first microprocessor operates independently of and concurrently with said second microprocessor in exercising operations defined by said parameters received from said second microprocessor.

3. A controller in a hard disk drive system for controlling the transfer of data and control signals between a plurality of host processors and said disk drive system, said disk drive system including storage media, at least one transducer for recording data on and retrieving data from said storage media and an actuator for moving said transducers with respect to said storage media, said controller comprising:

a programmed first microprocessor operating under control of a first operating system stored in a first memory unit associated with said first microprocessor for controlling the recording of data on said storage media and the retrieval of data from said storage media, the positioning of said actuator to locate said transducer at a specified location with respect to said storage media and for maintaining the position of a said transducer at a specified location with respect to said storage media;

a programmed second microprocessor operating under control of a second operating system stored in a second memory unit associated with said second microprocessor for controlling the transfer of data from a requesting host processor of said plurality of host processors to said disk drive system and the transfer of data recovered from said storage media to a requesting host processor of said plurality of host processors and for generating and communicating parameters to said first microprocessor for defining operations to be performed by said first microprocessor wherein said second microprocessor further comprises;

task means for accumulating tasks for said disk drive system issued by said plurality of host processors;

sequence means for determining the order in which said tasks are to be performed by said disk drive system; and

mapping means for address mapping the location of data in said storage media and in said buffer, for determining the availability of storage space on said storage media and said buffer and for allocating storage space on said storage media and said buffer for said task received by said disk drive system that required space on said storage media and in said buffer; and

where said second microprocessor operates independently of and concurrently with said first microprocessor and said first microprocessor operates independently of and concurrently with said second microprocessor in exercising operations defined by said parameters received from said second microprocessor.

4. The controller of claim 3 further comprising:

a buffer for storing data;

said first microprocessor recovering data stored in said buffer by said second microprocessor for storage on said storage media and storing data in said buffer recovered from said storage media for transfer to a host processor requesting the data by said second microprocessor; and

said second microprocessor recovering data stored in said buffer by said first microprocessor for transfer to a host processor requesting the data and storing data in said buffer received from said host for storage on said storage media by said first microprocessor.

5. The controller of claim 4 further comprising:

a buffer sequencer connected to said buffer for controlling access to said buffer for the simultaneous flow of data between said buffer and said host and between said buffer and said storage media.

6. The controller of claim 5 wherein said buffer sequencer comprises:

arbitrating means for arbitrating access to said buffer when a conflict arises between a request for access to said buffer issued by said first microprocessor and a request for access to said buffer issued by said second microprocessor.

7. A controller of claim 3 wherein said second microprocessor further comprises:

host means for controlling the communications between said disk drive system and said plurality of host processors wherein said disk drive system can be processing a request from one of said plurality of host processors while being in direct communication with another one of said plurality of host processors.

8. A controller in a hard disk drive system for controlling the transfer of data and control signals between a plurality of host processors and said disk drive system, said disk drive system including storage media, at least one transducer for recording data on and retrieving data from said storage media and an actuator for moving said transducers with respect to said storage media, said controller comprising:

a programmed first microprocessor operating under control of a first operating system stored in a first memory unit associated with said first microprocessor for controlling the recording of data on said storage media and the retrieval of data from said storage media, the positioning of said actuator to locate said transducer at a specified location with respect to said storage media and for maintaining the position of a said transducer at a specified location with respect to said storage media;

a programmed second microprocessor operating under control of a second operating system stored in a second memory unit associated with said second microprocessor for controlling the transfer of data from a requesting host processor of said plurality of host processors to said disk drive system and the transfer of data recovered from said storage media to a requesting host processor of said plurality of host processors and for generating and communicating parameters to said first microprocessor for defining operations to be performed by said first microprocessor wherein said second microprocessor further comprises;

translation means for converting a task received from a requesting host processor of said plurality of host processors into one or more commands for said first processor to carry out said task; and

transfer means for transferring said one or more commands for said task to a third memory unit associated with said first microprocessor; and

where said second microprocessor operates independently of and concurrently with said first microprocessor and said first microprocessor operates independently of and concurrently with said second microprocessor in exercising operations defined by said parameters received from said second microprocessor.

9. A controller of claim 8 wherein said second microprocessor further comprises:

host means for controlling the communications between said disk drive system and said plurality of host processors wherein said disk drive system can be processing a request from one of said plurality of host processors while being in direct communication with another one of said plurality of host processers.

10. A controller of claim 8 wherein said first microprocessor further comprises:

error handling means for detecting and correcting error in data recovered from said storage media; and

reporting means for reporting the error and the error location to said second microprocessor.

11. The controller of claim 8 further comprising:

a buffer for storing data;

said first microprocessor recovering data stored in said buffer by said second microprocessor for storage on said storage media and storing data in said buffer recovered from said storage media for transfer to a host processor requesting the data by said second microprocessor; and

said second microprocessor recovering data stored in said buffer by said first microprocessor for transfer to a host processor requesting the data and storing data in said buffer received from said host for storage on said storage media by said first microprocessor.

12. The controller of claim 11 further comprising:

a buffer sequencer connected to said buffer for controlling access to said buffer for the simultaneous flow of data between said buffer and said host and between said buffer and said storage media.

13. The controller of claim 12 wherein said buffer sequencer comprises:

arbitrating means for arbitrating access to said buffer when a conflict arises between a request for access to said buffer issued by said first microprocessor and a request for access to said buffer issued by said second microprocessor.

14. A controller in a hard disk drive system for controlling the transfer of data and control signals between a plurality of host processors and said disk drive system, said disk drive system including storage media, at least one transducer for recording data on and retrieving data from said storage media and an actuator for moving said transducers with respect to said storage media, said controller comprising:

a programmed first microprocessor operating under control of a first operating system stored in a first memory unit associated with said first microprocessor for controlling the recording of data on said storage media and the retrieval of data from said storage media, the positioning of said actuator to locate said transducer at a specified location with respect to said storage media and for maintaining the position of a said transducer at a specified location with respect to said storage media;

a programmed second microprocessor operating under control of a second operating system stored in a second memory unit associated with said second microprocessor for controlling the transfer of data from a requesting host processor of said plurality of host processors to said disk drive system and the transfer of data recovered from said storage media to a requesting host processor of said plurality of host processors and for generating and communicating parameters to said first microprocessor for defining operations to be performed by said first microprocessor wherein said second microprocessor further comprises;

task means for accumulating tasks for said disk drive system issued by said plurality of host processors;

sequence means for determining the order in which said tasks are to be performed by said disk drive system;

mapping means for address mapping the location of data in said storage media and in said buffer and for determining the availability of storage space on said storage media and said buffer;

host means for controlling the communications between said disk drive system and said plurality of host processors wherein said disk drive system can be processing a request from one of said plurality of host processors while being in direct communication with another one of said plurality of host processors;

translation means for converting a task received from a requesting host processor of said plurality of host processors into one or more commands for said first processor to carry out said task; and

transfer means for transferring said one or more commands for said task to a third memory unit associated with said first microprocessor; and

where said second microprocessor operates independently of and concurrently with said first microprocessor and said first microprocessor operates independently of and concurrently with said second microprocessor in exercising operations defined by said parameters received from said second microprocessor.

15. A controller of claim 14 wherein said first microprocessor further comprises:

error handling means for detecting and correcting error in data recovered from said storage media; and

reporting means for reporting the error and the error location to said second microprocessor.

16. A controller of claim 15 wherein said second microprocessor further comprises:

error history means for performing statistical and historical error record keeping for error detected by said first microprocessor and said second microprocessor;

error correction means for recovering from errors detected by said first microprocessor that was not correctable by said first error processor; and

error detection means for detecting an error in the transfer of data internal to said disk drive system other than an error detected in the recovered data from said storage media by said error handling means of said first microprocessor.