US5430845A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Peripheral device interface for dynamically selecting boot disk device driver
Assignee: Unisys Corp
•
Filing: 1992-06-17
•
Granted: 1995-07-04
•
Expires: 2012-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A common peripheral device interface module is disclosed for use with the Unix (Unix is a trademark of AT&T) operating system which is flexible enough to support many types of disk or tape device drivers. A common disk module (CDM) is included. The CDM contains high level disk operation commands which may be used for common reference to each disk driver on the system. Routines within the CDM are accessed by the Unix system call interface through a series of operating system entry points. Additional routines are included with the pre-existing Unix operating system Disk I/O Subsystem to improve interfacing between this subsystem and the CDM. A common tape module (CTM) is used to perform high level tape operation routines. The Unix system call interface communicates with the CTM through a group of operating system entry points. Because there is no Unix operating system tape I/O subsystem, the CTM completely implements a tape I/O subsystem. To provide hardware portability, the CTM is configured to call a group of low level routines which have been incorporated into a device driver. Because of the large number of possible root disk device drives, the root disk device driver can be dynamically selected for the Unix operating system. Each controller which is resident within the system checks in with the operating system. The controller which checks in first with the operating system is used for booting up the system. Each controller which checks in is matched with an appropriate device driver. The matched device drivers are then used for disk I/O functions.
Inventors
- 👤 Todd M. Rimmer
- 👤 William P. Jordan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:39
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/06; G06F3/0601
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
In a computer system including storage means and including a memory in which a plurality of program images are stored, swapped out and transferred to said storage means, apparatus for dynamically selecting a boot disk device driver for a Unix operating system from among a plurality of disk device drivers, comprising: a. first indication means for determining if each of said plurality of disk device drivers is coupled to a respective one of a plurality of disk drive controllers; b. second indication means for determining presence of at least one of a plurality of disk drives wherein each of said plurality of disk drives are coupled to a respective one of said plurality of disk device drivers; c. transfer means, responsive to at least one of said first and second indication means, for transferring to the Unix operating system a value which uniquely identifies one of said plurality of disk drive controllers as said boot disk drive controller if a disk drive of said plurality of disk drives which is coupled to said one of said plurality of disk drive controllers has a root disk number; d. means for a) coupling said boot disk drive controller to a corresponding device driver b) configuring said corresponding device driver as said boot disk device driver for booting said computer system; and c) indicating to said computer system that said corresponding device driver is used for transferring to said storage means ones of said plurality of images swapped out of said memory.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
In a computer system including storage means and including a memory in which a plurality of program images are stored, swapped out and transferred to said storage means, apparatus for dynamically selecting a boot disk device driver for a Unix operating system from among a plurality of disk device drivers, comprising: a. first indication means for determining if each of said plurality of disk device drivers is coupled to a respective one of a plurality of disk drive controllers; b. second indication means for determining presence of at least one of a plurality of disk drives wherein each of said plurality of disk drives are coupled to a respective one of said plurality of disk device drivers; c. transfer means, responsive to at least one of said first and second indication means, for transferring to the Unix operating system a value which uniquely identifies one of said plurality of disk drive controllers as said boot disk drive controller if a disk drive of said plurality of disk drives which is coupled to said one of said plurality of disk drive controllers has a root disk number; d. means for a) coupling said boot disk drive controller to a corresponding device driver b) configuring said corresponding device driver as said boot disk device driver for booting said computer system; and c) indicating to said computer system that said corresponding device driver is used for transferring to said storage means ones of said plurality of images swapped out of said memory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said boot disk drive controller is the first of said plurality of disk drive controllers to indicate a presence.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said computer system includes means for indicating a presence of each of said plurality of disk drive controllers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus for dynamically selecting a boot disk device driver according to claim 1, further comprising means for indicating to said computer system that said corresponding device driver is used for communicating with said storage means to receive from said storage means a respective numerical value corresponding to a respective one of said plurality of disk drives.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus for dynamically selecting a boot disk device driver according to claim 1, further comprising means for indicating to said computer system that said corresponding device driver is used for communicating with said storage means to receive from said storage means operating system program images.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
267 words
Apparatus for transferring a first input/output (I/O) request between a Unix operating system and a first peripheral device controller coupled to a first I/O device and for transferring a second I/O request between said Unix operating system and a second peripheral device controller coupled to a second I/O device, each Of said first I/O request and said second I/O request one of a read request and a write request, said apparatus comprising: a. Unix system call interface means for receiving said first I/O request and said second I/O request; b. common device module means including a) common write means for writing data to either one of said first peripheral device controller and said second peripheral device controller and b) common read means for reading data from either one of said first peripheral device controller and said second peripheral device controller. c. first and second operating system interface means, coupled to said Unix system call interface means, for receiving the first I/O request and the second I/O request, respectively, and for mapping each of the first I/O request and the second I/O request to one of said common read means and said common write means; and d. first and second device driver means, coupled to said first peripheral device controller and said second peripheral device controller respectively, for transferring said first I/O request between either one of said common write means and said common read means and said first peripheral device controller and for transferring said second I/O request between either one of said common write means and said common read means and said second peripheral device controller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
267 words
Apparatus for transferring a first input/output (I/O) request between a Unix operating system and a first peripheral device controller coupled to a first I/O device and for transferring a second I/O request between said Unix operating system and a second peripheral device controller coupled to a second I/O device, each Of said first I/O request and said second I/O request one of a read request and a write request, said apparatus comprising: a. Unix system call interface means for receiving said first I/O request and said second I/O request; b. common device module means including a) common write means for writing data to either one of said first peripheral device controller and said second peripheral device controller and b) common read means for reading data from either one of said first peripheral device controller and said second peripheral device controller. c. first and second operating system interface means, coupled to said Unix system call interface means, for receiving the first I/O request and the second I/O request, respectively, and for mapping each of the first I/O request and the second I/O request to one of said common read means and said common write means; and d. first and second device driver means, coupled to said first peripheral device controller and said second peripheral device controller respectively, for transferring said first I/O request between either one of said common write means and said common read means and said first peripheral device controller and for transferring said second I/O request between either one of said common write means and said common read means and said second peripheral device controller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein details of said first I/O request determined by the operating system are implemented substantially exclusively in said common device module means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first device driver means and said first peripheral device controller are coupled to a first type of peripheral device, said apparatus further including: a further peripheral device controller coupled to a second type of peripheral device; further device driver means, coupled to said further peripheral device controller, including means for providing commands and data to said further peripheral device controller and means for receiving data from said further peripheral device controller; wherein said common device module means includes means for conditioning said further device driver means to communicate with said further peripheral device controller.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first peripheral device controller is a disk drive controller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first device driver means includes a disk I/O subsystem of a Unix operating system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein details of any interface requirements with the disk I/O subsystem of the Unix operating system are implemented substantially exclusively in said common device module means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said common device module means transfers status information between the Unix system call interface means and the first device driver means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first device driver means comprises: a. interrupt means for indicating that an I/O operation has been completed; b. strategy means for initiating the I/O operation; and c. printing means for providing diagnostic error messages.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first peripheral device controller is a tape drive controller.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first device driver means includes first and second sets of I/O command routines, coupled respectively to said Unix system call interface means and to said first peripheral device controller, and the common device module means is configured to transfer status information between said first and second sets of I/O routines.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 15, further including buffering means, coupled to said common device module means, for receiving a predetermined amount of data provided by said second set of command routines and for providing only such data as is requested through said Unix system call interface to said first set of command routines.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 6, further including means, coupled to said first device driver means, for receiving a signal from said first device driver means and for indicating to said Unix System Call interface means responsive to said signal that said first I/O device is ready to perform said first I/O request.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said common write means and said common read means are for writing to and reading from a disk unit, respectively.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first device driver means is for transferring said first I/O request to said first peripheral device in a block oriented manner.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for communicating with a plurality of peripheral devices in a computer system, comprising: a. Unix system call interface means, for allowing a user to request a plurality of input/output (I/O) operations; b. device driver means, including means for implementing first and second peripheral operation commands for use in communicating with said Unix system call interface means and said plurality of peripheral devices, respectively; c. interface selection means, for mapping the user requested I/O operations between the Unix system call interface and the first peripheral operation commands of said device driver means; and d. common device module means coupled to said device driver means for, from a common I/O routine included in said colon device module means, signaling said device driver means to sequence said second peripheral operation commands in a manner to perform operations represented by said first peripheral operation commands to access more than one of said plurality of peripheral devices.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for communicating with a plurality of peripheral devices in a computer system, comprising: a. Unix system call interface means, for allowing a user to request a plurality of input/output (I/O) operations; b. device driver means, including means for implementing first and second peripheral operation commands for use in communicating with said Unix system call interface means and said plurality of peripheral devices, respectively; c. interface selection means, for mapping the user requested I/O operations between the Unix system call interface and the first peripheral operation commands of said device driver means; and d. common device module means coupled to said device driver means for, from a common I/O routine included in said colon device module means, signaling said device driver means to sequence said second peripheral operation commands in a manner to perform operations represented by said first peripheral operation commands to access more than one of said plurality of peripheral devices.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said plurality of peripheral devices includes a disk drive.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said plurality of peripheral devices includes a tape drive.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 20, further including means, coupled to said device driver means, for receiving a signal from said device driver means and for indicating to said Unix System Call interface means responsive to said signal that one of said plurality of peripheral devices is ready to perform one of said plurality of requested I/O operations.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein one of said plurality of peripheral devices is a disk unit and said I/O routine is for communicating with said disk unit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said I/O routine is for communicating with said disk unit in a block oriented manner.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4075691A
Cited
US4589063A
Cited
EP0192924A2
Cited
US4649479A
Cited
US4747040A
Cited
US4742447A
Cited
US4768150A
Cited
US4975829A
Cited
US4901231A
Cited
US4972368A
Cited
US4951245A
Cited
US5247659A
Cited
US5179666A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-03 | 1999-01-02 | 1999-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-03 | 2003-01-02 | 2003-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-03 | 2007-01-02 | 2007-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |