US5388243A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-sort mass storage device announcing its active paths without deactivating its ports in a network architecture
Assignee: EMC Corp
•
Filing: 1990-03-09
•
Granted: 1995-02-07
•
Expires: 2010-03-09
Abstract
Abstract A network-type data processing system is provided. The system can support multiple simultaneous exchanges of data, and includes multi-port storage devices in which all ports can be active at all times. On initialization of the system, each storage device can announce itself through all of its ports simultaneously.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph S. Glider
- 👤 Thomas E. Idleman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/2002; G06F11/2005; G06F11/2053; G06F11/2089; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/40; G06F13/4004; G06F13/4022; G06F11/2007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
A data processing system comprising: a plurality of main processing units; a mass storage device; a plurality of device controllers connected to said mass storage device to provide interfaces between said mass storage device and said plurality of main processing units; and a data communications link external to said mass storage device interconnecting said plurality of main processing units and said plurality of device controllers in a network configuration; wherein: said mass storage device includes at least two simultaneously operable means for communicating with said controllers, a first one of said at least two simultaneously operable means connecting said mass storage device to a first one of said plurality of controllers, and a second one of said at least two simultaneously operable means connecting said mass storage device to a second one of said plurality of controllers, said at least two simultaneously operable means and said network in combination providing a plurality of paths which support simultaneous communications between said mass storage device and said plurality of main processing units on different ones of said paths, and at least two paths which support communication between said mass storage device and a particular main processing unit, said data processing system further comprising: means for allowing said mass storage device to announce to a main processing unit to which it has at least two paths, the availability of said at least two paths, without disabling any of said at least two paths.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
A data processing system comprising: a plurality of main processing units; a mass storage device; a plurality of device controllers connected to said mass storage device to provide interfaces between said mass storage device and said plurality of main processing units; and a data communications link external to said mass storage device interconnecting said plurality of main processing units and said plurality of device controllers in a network configuration; wherein: said mass storage device includes at least two simultaneously operable means for communicating with said controllers, a first one of said at least two simultaneously operable means connecting said mass storage device to a first one of said plurality of controllers, and a second one of said at least two simultaneously operable means connecting said mass storage device to a second one of said plurality of controllers, said at least two simultaneously operable means and said network in combination providing a plurality of paths which support simultaneous communications between said mass storage device and said plurality of main processing units on different ones of said paths, and at least two paths which support communication between said mass storage device and a particular main processing unit, said data processing system further comprising: means for allowing said mass storage device to announce to a main processing unit to which it has at least two paths, the availability of said at least two paths, without disabling any of said at least two paths.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The data processing system of claim 1 comprising a plurality of mass storage devices.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The data processing system of claim 1 wherein said mass storage device includes a plurality of disk drives.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The data processing system of claim 1 wherein said mass storage device includes a plurality of floppy disk drives.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The data processing system of claim 1 wherein said mass storage device includes a plurality of optical disk drives.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The data processing system of claim 1 wherein said mass storage device includes a plurality of tape drives.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The data processing system of claim 1 wherein said mass storage device comprises a cache memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The data processing system of claim 1 wherein said mass storage device includes a set of storage devices interconnected to operate together as a storage unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
250 words
A data processing system comprising: a plurality of main processing units; mass storage means characterized as a mass storage unit; a plurality of device controllers connected to said mass storage unit to provide interfaces between said mass storage unit and said plurality of main processing units; and a data communication link external to said mass storage unit interconnecting said plurality of main processing units and said plurality of device controllers in a network configuration; wherein: said mass storage unit includes at least two simultaneously operable ports by which said mass storage unit communications with said controllers, a first one of said at least two simultaneously operable ports connecting said mass storage unit to a first one of said plurality of controllers, and a second one of said at least two simultaneously operable ports connecting said mass storage unit to a second one of said plurality of controllers, said at least two simultaneously operable ports and said network in combination providing a plurality of paths which support simultaneous communications between said mass storage unit and said plurality of main processing units on different ones of said paths, and at least two paths which support communications between said mass storage unit and a particular main processing unit, said data processing system further comprising: means for allowing said mass storage unit to announce to a main processing unit to which it has at least two paths, the availability f said at least two paths, without disabling any of said at least two paths.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
250 words
A data processing system comprising: a plurality of main processing units; mass storage means characterized as a mass storage unit; a plurality of device controllers connected to said mass storage unit to provide interfaces between said mass storage unit and said plurality of main processing units; and a data communication link external to said mass storage unit interconnecting said plurality of main processing units and said plurality of device controllers in a network configuration; wherein: said mass storage unit includes at least two simultaneously operable ports by which said mass storage unit communications with said controllers, a first one of said at least two simultaneously operable ports connecting said mass storage unit to a first one of said plurality of controllers, and a second one of said at least two simultaneously operable ports connecting said mass storage unit to a second one of said plurality of controllers, said at least two simultaneously operable ports and said network in combination providing a plurality of paths which support simultaneous communications between said mass storage unit and said plurality of main processing units on different ones of said paths, and at least two paths which support communications between said mass storage unit and a particular main processing unit, said data processing system further comprising: means for allowing said mass storage unit to announce to a main processing unit to which it has at least two paths, the availability f said at least two paths, without disabling any of said at least two paths.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The data processing system of claim 9 wherein said mass storage means includes a set of storage devices interconnected to operate together as a mass storage unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The data processing system of claim 10 wherein said set of storage devices includes a plurality of disk drives.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The data processing system of claim 10 wherein said set of storage devices includes a plurality of floppy disk drives.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The data processing system of claim 10 wherein said set of storage devices includes a plurality of optical disk drives.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The data processing system of claim 10 wherein said set of storage devices includes a plurality of tape drives.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
240 words
For use in a data processing system comprising a plurality of main processing units, a mass storage device, a plurality of device controllers connected to said mass storage device to provide interfaces between said mass storage device and said plurality of main processing units, and a data communications link external to said mass storage device interconnecting said plurality of main processing units and said plurality of device controllers in a network configuration, wherein said mass storage device includes at least two simultaneously operable means for communicating with said controllers, a data processing method comprising: connecting said mass storage device to a first one of said plurality of controllers through a first one of said at least two simultaneously operable means and to a second one of said plurality of controllers through a second one of said at least two simultaneously operable means so that said at least two simultaneously operable means and said network in combination provide a plurality of paths which support simultaneous communications between said mass storage device and said plurality of main processing units on different ones of said paths, and at least two paths which support communication between said mass storage device and a particular main processing unit; and allowing said mass storage device to announce to a main processing unit to which it has at least two paths, the availability of said at least two paths, without disabling any of said at least two paths.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
240 words
For use in a data processing system comprising a plurality of main processing units, a mass storage device, a plurality of device controllers connected to said mass storage device to provide interfaces between said mass storage device and said plurality of main processing units, and a data communications link external to said mass storage device interconnecting said plurality of main processing units and said plurality of device controllers in a network configuration, wherein said mass storage device includes at least two simultaneously operable means for communicating with said controllers, a data processing method comprising: connecting said mass storage device to a first one of said plurality of controllers through a first one of said at least two simultaneously operable means and to a second one of said plurality of controllers through a second one of said at least two simultaneously operable means so that said at least two simultaneously operable means and said network in combination provide a plurality of paths which support simultaneous communications between said mass storage device and said plurality of main processing units on different ones of said paths, and at least two paths which support communication between said mass storage device and a particular main processing unit; and allowing said mass storage device to announce to a main processing unit to which it has at least two paths, the availability of said at least two paths, without disabling any of said at least two paths.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
250 words
For use in a data processing system comprising: a plurality of main processing units, mass storage means characterized as a mass storage unit, a plurality of device controllers connected to said mass storage unit to provide interfaces between said mass storage unit and said plurality of main processing units, and a data communications link external to said mass storage unit interconnecting said plurality of main processing units and said plurality of device controllers in a network configuration, wherein said mass storage unit includes at least two simultaneously operable ports by which said mass storage unit communicates with said controllers, a data processing method comprising: connecting said mass storage unit to a first one of said plurality of controllers through a first one of said at least two simultaneously operable ports and to a second one of said plurality of controllers through a second one of said at least two simultaneously operable ports so that said at least two simultaneously operable ports and said network in combination provide a plurality of paths which support simultaneous communications between said mass storage unit and said plurality of main processing units on different ones of said paths, and at least two paths which support communication between said mass storage unit and a particular main processing unit; and allowing said mass storage unit to announce to a main processing unit to which it has at least two paths, the availability of said at least two paths, without disabling any of said at least two paths.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
250 words
For use in a data processing system comprising: a plurality of main processing units, mass storage means characterized as a mass storage unit, a plurality of device controllers connected to said mass storage unit to provide interfaces between said mass storage unit and said plurality of main processing units, and a data communications link external to said mass storage unit interconnecting said plurality of main processing units and said plurality of device controllers in a network configuration, wherein said mass storage unit includes at least two simultaneously operable ports by which said mass storage unit communicates with said controllers, a data processing method comprising: connecting said mass storage unit to a first one of said plurality of controllers through a first one of said at least two simultaneously operable ports and to a second one of said plurality of controllers through a second one of said at least two simultaneously operable ports so that said at least two simultaneously operable ports and said network in combination provide a plurality of paths which support simultaneous communications between said mass storage unit and said plurality of main processing units on different ones of said paths, and at least two paths which support communication between said mass storage unit and a particular main processing unit; and allowing said mass storage unit to announce to a main processing unit to which it has at least two paths, the availability of said at least two paths, without disabling any of said at least two paths.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-02-06 | 1998-08-08 | 1999-02-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-02-06 | 2002-08-08 | 2003-02-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-02-06 | 2006-08-08 | 2007-02-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |