Abstract A Command interface includes ports for transferring information between a host processor and at least one intelligent subsystem which may have attached devices. A Command Interface port receives either a direct command or an indirect command from the host processor, which commands are indicative of a type of operation to be performed by the one subsystem or an attached device. An Attention port receives a code from the host processor which is indicative of which one of the direct command or the indirect command is received at the Command Interface port, and which is also indicative of which of the one intelligent subsystem or a device is to execute the command. A command busy/status port receives a code from the one intelligent subsystem which is indicative of whether or not the Command Interface port and the Attention port are busy, and whether or not the one intelligent subsystem is accepting or rejecting commands. The host processor can read this port without altering or updating the code.
A method of operating a computer system which includes a host processor and at least one subsystem which may have attached devices, and a command interface for transferring information between said host processor and said one subsystem, with said command interface including a Command Interface port which is in an active state when receiving commands from said host processor, an Attention port which is in an active state when receiving a code from said host processor which is indicative of which one of said one intelligent subsystem or a device is receiving the command at said command interface port, a command busy/status port which includes a busy bit position and a reject bit position, and a subsystem control port which includes a subsystem reset bit position, and a reset reject state bit position, said method including the steps of: setting the busy bit position of said command busy/status port to an ON state in response to said Attention port being active, or the subsystem reset bit position of said subsystem control port being in the ON state; and setting the reject bit position of said command busy/status port to an ON state in response to the reset bit position of said subsystem control port being in the ON state, or the reset reject state bit position of said subsystem control port being in the ON state.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of operating a computer system which includes a host processor and at least one subsystem which may have attached devices, and a command interface for transferring information between said host processor and said one subsystem, with said command interface including a Command Interface port which is in an active state when receiving commands from said host processor, an Attention port which is in an active state when receiving a code from said host processor which is indicative of which one of said one intelligent subsystem or a device is receiving the command at said command interface port, a command busy/status port which includes a busy bit position and a reject bit position, and a subsystem control port which includes a subsystem reset bit position, and a reset reject state bit position, said method including the steps of: setting the busy bit position of said command busy/status port to an ON state in response to said Attention port being active, or the subsystem reset bit position of said subsystem control port being in the ON state; and setting the reject bit position of said command busy/status port to an ON state in response to the reset bit position of said subsystem control port being in the ON state, or the reset reject state bit position of said subsystem control port being in the ON state.