I2O command and status batching
First Claim
1. A method of batching commands between a host computer and an adapter installed on a host computer system bus comprising:
- storing respective command pointers to each of a plurality of commands in an array;
providing a single array pointer to the array, the array pointer comprising a data value corresponding to a number of respective command pointers in the array;
delivering the array pointer to the adapter;
accessing the number of respective command pointers in the command array corresponding to the data value in the array pointer; and
fetching the commands corresponding to each command pointer accessed.
18 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for batching commands and status information between a host computer and an adapter installed on the host computer. The method for command batching includes the host storing command pointers, each command pointer pointing to a command in an array, and providing an array pointer to the array. When a predetermined threshold of stored commands has been reached, the host can deliver a multitude of commands via the array pointer with a single bus access. A method for status batching includes transferring command statuses from the adapter to the host computer and providing a pointer to the transferred statuses. When a predetermined threshold of statuses has been reached, the adapter interrupts the host computer once to fetch the pointer and the host can then read the statuses without requiring any more bus interrupts.
109 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of batching commands between a host computer and an adapter installed on a host computer system bus comprising:
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storing respective command pointers to each of a plurality of commands in an array; providing a single array pointer to the array, the array pointer comprising a data value corresponding to a number of respective command pointers in the array; delivering the array pointer to the adapter; accessing the number of respective command pointers in the command array corresponding to the data value in the array pointer; and fetching the commands corresponding to each command pointer accessed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for batching commands to an adapter installed on a host computer system bus comprising:
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a host processor storing respective command pointers to each of a plurality of adapter commands in an array;
establishing a single array pointer to the array, the array pointer comprising a data value corresponding to a number of respective command pointers in the array; and
delivering the array pointer to the adapter; andan adapter processor, in communication with the host computer via the system bus, accessing the number of respective command pointers in the command array corresponding to the data value in the array pointer, and fetching the commands corresponding to each command pointer accessed.
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Specification