Operation request block usage

Claim 2

In a data processing system including a controlling unit, a controlled unit organized to communicate with said controlling unit and addressible storage means subject to shared access by both of said units, a method of controlling dispatching interaction between said units, said method comprising: enabling said units to establish, revertively transfer, and retain a pointer address function specifyiNg a space in said storage means subject to utilization in an operation dispatched to be performed by said controlled unit, said address being subject to revertive transfer to and utilization by said controlling unit at completion of said operation to enable said controlling unit to locate and activate a segment of an interrupted problem program execution of which is contingent upon completion of a said dispatched operation by said controlled unit.

Claim 3

In a data processing system including a controlling unit, a controlled unit and addressible storage means subject to shared access at least in part by both of said units, the method of dispatch operation initiation and control comprising: enabling said controlling unit, under control of a supervisory program to successively: a) allocate a first shared space in said storage means for use in connection with a predetermined operation to be dispatched for execution by said controlled unit; b) prepare said first space with first address pointer information designating a second shared space in said storage means containing a problem program routine of the controlling unit execution of which is contingent upon completion of said dispatched operation; and c) communicate with said controlled unit to transfer second address pointer information designating the location of said first space; and enabling said controlled unit to operate independently after said communication with said controlling unit to successively: a) retain said second pointer information designating the location of said first space; b) while retaining said information perform said dispatched operation and c) initiate communication with said controlling unit to return said retained second pointer information to said controlling unit upon conclusion of said operation; whereby upon or subject to successful conclusion said controlling unit may utilize said returned information to locate said problem program routine for execution.

Claim 4

In a data processing system including a controlling unit, a controlled unit and addressible storage means subject to shared access at least in part by both of said units, the method of dispatch operation initiation and control comprising: enabling said controlling unit, under control of a supervisory program to successively: a) allocate a first shared space in said storage means for use in connection with a predetermined operation to be dispatched for execution by said controlled unit; b) prepare said first space with first address pointer information designating a second shared space in said storage means containing a problem program routine of the controlling unit execution of which is contingent upon completion of said dispatched operation; and c) communicate with said controlled unit to transfer second address pointer information designating the location of said first space; and enabling said controlled unit to operate independently after said communication with said controlling unit to successively: a) retain said second pointer information designating the location of said first space; b) while retaining said information perform said dispatched operation and c) initiate communication with said controlling unit to return said retained second pointer information to said controlling unit upon conclusion of said operation; whereby upon or subject to successful conclusion said controlling unit may utilize said returned information to locate said problem program routine for execution.

Claim 5

A control method according to claim 2, wherein the first space is arranged to include first and second sub-spaces subject to location by simple arithmetic manipulation of said retained second pointer information; the first sub-space containing said first pointer information and the second sub-space being subject to access by both of said units; said controlled unit enabling step including sub-steps intermediate sub- steps b) and c) thereof enabling said controlled unit to enter information in said second sub-space indicating the concluding status of said operation using said retained second pointer infor-mation to indirectly locate said second sub-space; said status information thereby being made available to said controlling unit for inspection upon said return of said retained second pointer information.

Claim 6

A control method according to claim 3 wherein said allocation of said first space is subject to termination rendering said space useful for other purposes immediately after return of said second pointer to the controlling unit and inspection of said status information by the controlling unit, conditional upon the inspected status information stored in said second sub-space of said first space indicating successful completion of said operation by said controlled unit.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 2 wherein: said controlling unit enabling step comprises sub-step of having said controlling unit prepare said first space with additional information besides said first pointer; said additional information including a priority level designation; and said communication step initiated by said controlled unit to effect said return of said second pointer comprises having the controlled unit signal a priority interruption request to said controlling unit, at a priority level designated by said priority level designation, subject to acceptance by the controlling unit when it is enabled at the designated level.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 2 wherein said preparation of said first space includes a step of haVing the controlling unit prepare third pointer information in said first space designating a third space containing an I/O command program for specifically controlling the dispatched operation to be performed by said controlled unit, said controlled unit performing said operation by successively obtaining access to said third pointer and command program.

Claim 9

In a data processing system including a CPU, and I/O unit and storage means an input-output control method comprising: enabling said CPU under Supervisory Program control to: a) reserve a serially reusable first space in said storage means, which space is subject to access by both said CPU and said I/O unit, as an Operations Request Block ORB useful in effecting I/O communication between said unit and CPU; b) prepare said ORB space with dispatch pointer information designating a second space in said storage means containing an interrupted/inactive section of a dispatched problem program routine of the CPU which is subject to active reinstatement for running in said CPU only after completion of an I/O operation by said I/O unit c) prepare said ORB space with I/O program pointer information designating a third storage space accessible to said I/O unit containing a program prepared therein by prior operation of said CPU for controlling said I/O unit to perform said I/O operations; and d) establish communication with said I/O unit to supply said I/O unit with ORB pointer information designating the address location of said first space; and enabling said I/O unit to operate after termination of said communication to a) obtain access to and perform said I/O program in said second space; b) enter concluding status in said ORB space, using said ORB pointer information supplied by said CPU to obtain access to said ORB space; c) request interruption of said CPU upon completion of the I/O program operation; and d) upon acknowledgment by said CPU re-transfer the ORB pointer to said CPU for handling in reference to the ORB space; whereby said dispatched problem routine section may be located and placed on active scheduled status.

Claim 10

In a data processing system including a CPU, and I/O unit and storage means an input-output control method comprising: enabling said CPU under Supervisory Program control to: a) reserve a serially reusable first space in said storage means, which space is subject to access by both said CPU and said I/O unit, as an Operations Request Block ORB useful in effecting I/O communication between said unit and CPU; b) prepare said ORB space with dispatch pointer information designating a second space in said storage means containing an interrupted/inactive section of a dispatched problem program routine of the CPU which is subject to active reinstatement for running in said CPU only after completion of an I/O operation by said I/O unit c) prepare said ORB space with I/O program pointer information designating a third storage space accessible to said I/O unit containing a program prepared therein by prior operation of said CPU for controlling said I/O unit to perform said I/O operations; and d) establish communication with said I/O unit to supply said I/O unit with ORB pointer information designating the address location of said first space; and enabling said I/O unit to operate after termination of said communication to a) obtain access to and perform said I/O program in said second space; b) enter concluding status in said ORB space, using said ORB pointer information supplied by said CPU to obtain access to said ORB space; c) request interruption of said CPU upon completion of the I/O program operation; and d) upon acknowledgment by said CPU re-transfer the ORB pointer to said CPU for handling in reference to the ORB space; whereby said dispatched problem routine section may be located and placed on active scheduled status.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 7, wherein said communication by said CPU to said I/O unit is effected by enabling said CPU and I/O unit to cooperate in executing a control initiating instruction of said CPU dedicated to transferring an order and said ORB pointer to said I/O unit and contingent upon failure to complete said transfer, allowing reverse transfer of specific exception status from said I/O unit to said CPU; said status comprising sufficient information such that further sense interrogation of the I/O unit and communication path elements between said CPU and I/O unit is not required; said I/O unit retaining said order and pointer when successfully transferred for handling in reference to obtaining access to said I/O program and effecting said pointer re-transfer to said CPU.

Claim 12

In a data processing system including a controlling unit, a controlled unit, and storage means including a plurality of addressable block storage spaces available for shared access by both of said units, the improved method for dispatching a program operation of said controlling unit conditional upon completion of an ancillary operation of said controlled unit comprising: enabling said controlling unit to prepare a selected one of said block spaces of said storage means with dispatch information pointing to the address location of a section of a problem program which is subject to execution contingent upon completion of a desired operation of said controlled unit and with additional information and enabling said controlled and controlling units to revertively communicate and retain block pointer information designating the storage location of said selected one space; enabling said controlling unit to initiate said revertive communication relative to said controlled unit, through the operatiOn of a control initiating instruction of the controlling unit devoted to effecting conditional transfer of said block pointer information along with order information, the pointer information designating the location of said selected one block space, subject to retention and handling by said controlled unit; enabling said controlled unit to operate independently in response to said order information to utilize said block pointer information to indirectly retrieve a command program locatable through other information prepared in said selected block space, said command program enabling said controlled unit to perform an input/output operation relative to data associated with said dispatched program operation of said controlling unit; enabling said controlled unit upon conclusion (although not necessarily completion) of its response to said order information to post a request for interruption to said controlling unit; and enabling said controlling unit and controlled unit conditional upon acknowledgment of said interruption request to effect conditional re-transfer of said block pointer information from said controlled unit to said controlling unit for use by the controlling unit, contingent upon completion of said input/output operation by the controlled unit, incidental to locating and re-activating the program for which said operation was initiated.

Claim 13

In a data processing system including a controlling unit, a controlled unit, and storage means including a plurality of addressable block storage spaces available for shared access by both of said units, the improved method for dispatching a program operation of said controlling unit conditional upon completion of an ancillary operation of said controlled unit comprising: enabling said controlling unit to prepare a selected one of said block spaces of said storage means with dispatch information pointing to the address location of a section of a problem program which is subject to execution contingent upon completion of a desired operation of said controlled unit and with additional information and enabling said controlled and controlling units to revertively communicate and retain block pointer information designating the storage location of said selected one space; enabling said controlling unit to initiate said revertive communication relative to said controlled unit, through the operatiOn of a control initiating instruction of the controlling unit devoted to effecting conditional transfer of said block pointer information along with order information, the pointer information designating the location of said selected one block space, subject to retention and handling by said controlled unit; enabling said controlled unit to operate independently in response to said order information to utilize said block pointer information to indirectly retrieve a command program locatable through other information prepared in said selected block space, said command program enabling said controlled unit to perform an input/output operation relative to data associated with said dispatched program operation of said controlling unit; enabling said controlled unit upon conclusion (although not necessarily completion) of its response to said order information to post a request for interruption to said controlling unit; and enabling said controlling unit and controlled unit conditional upon acknowledgment of said interruption request to effect conditional re-transfer of said block pointer information from said controlled unit to said controlling unit for use by the controlling unit, contingent upon completion of said input/output operation by the controlled unit, incidental to locating and re-activating the program for which said operation was initiated.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 9 wherein said dispatching operation includes enabling said controlling unit to provide a priority level designation in its said block space during said preparation of said block space and enabling said controlled unit and controlling unit to utilize said level indication cooperatively to accomplish said interruption and re-transfer of pointer custody at a priority level of interruption of the controlling unit which has no greater priority than the designated level, thereby eliminating the possibility of interruption of said controlling unit during performance of a task having higher priority than the dispatched problem program routine section.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 9 wherein said dispatching operation includes enabling said controlled unit upon said conclusion of its operation in response to said order to set status indication in said selected block space for utilization by said controlling unit in determining the status of completion of said operation.