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US5504882A
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Fault tolerant data storage subsystem employing hierarchically arranged controllers
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1994-06-20
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Granted: 1996-04-02
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Expires: 2014-06-20
Abstract
Abstract A fault tolerant disk storage subsystem which includes a multipath dynamically alterable hierarchical arrangement of storage device controllers. Multiple storage device controllers are provided which are each adapted to emulate a storage device and which each include a cache memory which has multiple data input ports and multiple data output ports. A processing element within the storage device controller is utilized to selectively interconnect particular data input ports with selected data output ports to provide multiple paths within the storage device controller. An interconnection is then provided for coupling a data output port of one or storage device controller with a data input port of one more alternate storage device controllers which emulate storage devices, creating an alterable hierarchical arrangement of storage device controllers. Storage devices are then coupled to each of the lowest levels of the hierarchical arrangement of storage device controllers. As the storage device controllers may very in type and capability, various combinations of access speed and redundancy may be provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip K. Chai
- 👤 Chan Y. Ng
- 👤 John R. Paveza
- 👤 Lloyd R. Shipman, Jr.
- 👤 Christ J. Xydes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:44
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/2053; G06F11/2056; G06F11/2087; G06F12/00; G06F12/02; G06F12/08; G06F12/0802; G06F12/0866; G06F3/00; G06F3/06; G06F3/0601; G11; G11C; G11C29/00; G11C29/70; G11C29/88; G06F11/08; G06F11/10; G06F11/1008; G06F11/2066; G06F12/0844; G06F12/0853; G06F3/0668; G06F3/0671; G06F3/0673; G11C29/74
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A fault tolerant data storage subsystem, said data storage subsystem comprising: a plurality of storage device controllers adapted to emulate a storage device, each storage device controller having a cache memory which includes multiple data input ports, multiple data output ports and at least one processing element for selectively interconnecting a selected data input port with a selected data output port within said cache memory; an interconnection for coupling a data output port of said cache memory within a first storage device controller with a data input port of said cache memory within a second storage device controller; and a first storage device selectively coupled to a dam output port of said cache memory within said second storage device controller wherein a multipath dynamically alterable hierarchical arrangement of storage device controllers is established.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A fault tolerant data storage subsystem, said data storage subsystem comprising: a plurality of storage device controllers adapted to emulate a storage device, each storage device controller having a cache memory which includes multiple data input ports, multiple data output ports and at least one processing element for selectively interconnecting a selected data input port with a selected data output port within said cache memory; an interconnection for coupling a data output port of said cache memory within a first storage device controller with a data input port of said cache memory within a second storage device controller; and a first storage device selectively coupled to a dam output port of said cache memory within said second storage device controller wherein a multipath dynamically alterable hierarchical arrangement of storage device controllers is established.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The fault tolerant data storage subsystem according to claim 1, further including a second interconnection for coupling a data output port of said cache memory within said first storage device controller with a data input port of said cache memory within a third storage device controller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The fault tolerant data storage subsystem according to claim 2, further including a second storage device selectively coupled to a data output port of said cache memory within said third storage device controller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fault tolerant data storage subsystem according to claim 1, further including a second storage device coupled to a data output port of said cache memory within said first storage device controller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fault tolerant data storage subsystem according to claim 2, wherein said first storage device controller comprises a RAID 1 controller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fault tolerant data storage subsystem according to claim 5, wherein said second storage device controller comprises a RAID 5 controller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fault tolerant data storage subsystem according to claim 6, wherein said third storage device controller comprises a RAID 5 controller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The fault tolerant data storage subsystem according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of storage device controllers includes a plurality of redundant power supplies.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The fault tolerant data storage subsystem according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of storage device controllers includes a plurality of redundant cooling fans.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
154 words
A data processing system comprising; a host processor; a plurality of storage device controllers adapted to emulate a storage device, each storage device controller having a cache memory which includes multiple data input ports, multiple data output ports and at least one processing element for selectively interconnecting a selective data input port with a selected data output port within said cache memory; a first interconnection for coupling said host processor to a data input port of said cache memory within a first storage device controller; a second interconnection for coupling a data output port of said cache memory within said first storage device controller with a data input port of said cache memory within a second storage device controller; and a first storage device selectively coupled to a data output port of said cache memory within said second storage device controller wherein a multipath dynamically alterable hierarchical arrangement of storage device controllers is established.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
154 words
A data processing system comprising; a host processor; a plurality of storage device controllers adapted to emulate a storage device, each storage device controller having a cache memory which includes multiple data input ports, multiple data output ports and at least one processing element for selectively interconnecting a selective data input port with a selected data output port within said cache memory; a first interconnection for coupling said host processor to a data input port of said cache memory within a first storage device controller; a second interconnection for coupling a data output port of said cache memory within said first storage device controller with a data input port of said cache memory within a second storage device controller; and a first storage device selectively coupled to a data output port of said cache memory within said second storage device controller wherein a multipath dynamically alterable hierarchical arrangement of storage device controllers is established.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The data processing system according to claim 10, further including a third interconnection for coupling a data output port of said cache memory within said first storage device controller with a data input port of said cache memory within a third storage device controller.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The data processing system according to claim 11, further including a second storage device selectively coupled to a data output port of said cache memory within said third storage device controller.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The data processing system according to claim 10, further including a second storage device coupled to a data output port of said cache memory within said first storage device controller.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The data processing system according to claim 11, wherein said first storage device controller comprises a RAID 1 controller.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The data processing system according to claim 14, wherein said second storage device controller comprises a RAID 5 controller.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The data processing system according to claim 15, wherein said third storage device controller comprises a RAID 5 controller.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The data processing system according to claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of storage device controllers includes a plurality of redundant power supplies.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The data processing system according to claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of storage device controllers includes a plurality of redundant cooling fans.
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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) | 1999-04-02 | 1999-10-02 | 2000-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-02 | 2003-10-02 | 2004-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-02 | 2007-10-02 | 2008-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |