Variable length data in a parallel disk array

Claim 2

In a disc array system which includes a plurality of disc storage devices and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths, a method for controlling accesses to the plurality of disc storage devices comprising the steps, executed by the disc array controller, of: dividing data of first kind given by the upper device through the one upper path into plural portions, the data of first kind being data for which the upper device has designated a division number which is larger than one; not dividing data of second kind given by the upper device through the one upper path, the data of the second kind being data for which the upper device has not designated a division number which is larger than one; writing said plural portions of said data of first kind in parallel into a plurality of regions belonging to plural ones of said disc storage device by plural ones of said plurality of lower paths; and writing said data of second kind into one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices by one of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 3

In a disc array system which includes a plurality of disc storage devices and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths, a method for controlling accesses to the plurality of disc storage devices comprising steps executed by the disc array controller, of: receiving a region assignment request given by the upper device for a data set through the one upper path, said request designating a length of data belonging to said data set, said data set being one which will be given by said upper device so as to be written into said plurality of disc storage devices; assigning to the data set, either a region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices when said data set is shorter than the designated length of data, or a plurality of regions belonging to different ones of said plurality of disc storage devices when said data set is longer than the designated length of data; writing data belonging to the data set as subsequently given by the upper device by way of the one upper path into the one region assigned to the data set, when the one region has been assigned to the data set in the assigning step, the subsequently given data being transferred to the one region by way of one of the plurality of lower paths; and writing plural data portions of the subsequently given data in parallel into the plurality of regions assigned to the data set, when the plurality of regions have been assigned to the data set in the assigning step, the plural portions of the subsequently given data being transferred to said plurality of regions by way of plural ones of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 4

In a disc array system which includes a plurality of disc storage devices and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths, a method for controlling accesses to the plurality of disc storage devices comprising steps executed by the disc array controller, of: receiving a region assignment request given by the upper device for a data set through the one upper path, said request designating a length of data belonging to said data set, said data set being one which will be given by said upper device so as to be written into said plurality of disc storage devices; assigning to the data set, either a region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices when said data set is shorter than the designated length of data, or a plurality of regions belonging to different ones of said plurality of disc storage devices when said data set is longer than the designated length of data; writing data belonging to the data set as subsequently given by the upper device by way of the one upper path into the one region assigned to the data set, when the one region has been assigned to the data set in the assigning step, the subsequently given data being transferred to the one region by way of one of the plurality of lower paths; and writing plural data portions of the subsequently given data in parallel into the plurality of regions assigned to the data set, when the plurality of regions have been assigned to the data set in the assigning step, the plural portions of the subsequently given data being transferred to said plurality of regions by way of plural ones of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 2, wherein the assigning step includes a step of selecting one of a plurality of division numbers each larger than one, as a total number of a plurality of regions to be assigned to the data set, so that the larger the designated length of data is, the larger the selected division number is, when a plurality of regions are to be assigned to the data set.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 3, wherein the selecting step includes a step of determining a division number to be selected to be a predetermined division number which is larger than 1 when the length of the data is longer than the designated length of data and a second designated length of data.

Claim 7

In a disc array system which includes a plurality of disc storage devices and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths, a method for controlling accesses to the plurality of disc storage devices comprising steps executed by the disc array controller of: receiving a region assignment request given by the upper device for a data set through the one upper path, said request designating a data transfer rate by which data belonging to the data set is to be transferred; assigning to the data set, either a region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices when said data set requires a data transfer rate lower than the designated data transfer rate, or a plurality of regions belonging to different ones of said plurality of disc storage devices when said data set requires a data transfer rate higher than the designated data transfer rate; writing data belonging to the data set as subsequently given by the upper device by way of the one upper path, into the one region assigned to the data set, when the one region has been assigned to the data set in the assigning step, the subsequently given data being transferred to the one region by one of the plurality of lower paths; and writing plural data portions of the subsequently given data in parallel into the plurality of regions assigned to the data set, when the plurality of regions have been assigned to the data set in the assigning step, the plural portions of the subsequently given data being transferred to said plurality of regions by way of plural ones of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 8

In a disc array system which includes a plurality of disc storage devices and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths, a method for controlling accesses to the plurality of disc storage devices comprising steps executed by the disc array controller of: receiving a region assignment request given by the upper device for a data set through the one upper path, said request designating a data transfer rate by which data belonging to the data set is to be transferred; assigning to the data set, either a region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices when said data set requires a data transfer rate lower than the designated data transfer rate, or a plurality of regions belonging to different ones of said plurality of disc storage devices when said data set requires a data transfer rate higher than the designated data transfer rate; writing data belonging to the data set as subsequently given by the upper device by way of the one upper path, into the one region assigned to the data set, when the one region has been assigned to the data set in the assigning step, the subsequently given data being transferred to the one region by one of the plurality of lower paths; and writing plural data portions of the subsequently given data in parallel into the plurality of regions assigned to the data set, when the plurality of regions have been assigned to the data set in the assigning step, the plural portions of the subsequently given data being transferred to said plurality of regions by way of plural ones of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 5, wherein the designated data transfer rate is a transfer rate during recording or reproducing by a head.

Claim 10

In a disc array system which includes a plurality of disc storage devices and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths, a method for controlling accesses to the plurality of disc storage devices comprising steps, executed by the disc array controller, of: assigning either one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices when data given by the upper device through the one upper path is shorter than a predetermined length of the data or a plurality of regions belonging to different ones of the plurality of disc storage devices when the data given by the upper device through the one upper path is longer than the predetermined length of the data; writing the data into the one region by way of one of the plurality of lower paths, when the one region has been assigned to the data by the assigning step; and writing plural portions of the data in parallel into the plurality of regions by way of plural ones of said plurality of lower paths, when the plurality of regions have been assigned to the data by the assigning step.

Claim 11

In a disc array system which includes a plurality of disc storage devices and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths, a method for controlling accesses to the plurality of disc storage devices comprising steps, executed by the disc array controller, of: assigning either one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices when data given by the upper device through the one upper path is shorter than a predetermined length of the data or a plurality of regions belonging to different ones of the plurality of disc storage devices when the data given by the upper device through the one upper path is longer than the predetermined length of the data; writing the data into the one region by way of one of the plurality of lower paths, when the one region has been assigned to the data by the assigning step; and writing plural portions of the data in parallel into the plurality of regions by way of plural ones of said plurality of lower paths, when the plurality of regions have been assigned to the data by the assigning step.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 7, wherein the assigning step increases a total number of the plurality of regions assigned to the data, when the length of the data is further longer.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 8, wherein the assigning step includes a step of determining a division number to be selected to be a predetermined division number which is larger than 1 when the length of the data is longer than the designated length of data and a second designated length of data.

Claim 14

In a disc array system which includes a plurality of disc storage devices and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths, a method for controlling accesses to the plurality of disc storage devices comprising steps, executed by the array controller, of: assigning either one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices when data given by the upper device through the one upper path requires a data transfer rate lower than a predetermined data transfer rate or a plurality of regions belonging to different ones of the plurality of disc storage devices when the data given by the upper device through the one upper path requires a data transfer rate higher than the predetermined data transfer rate; writing said data into said one region by way of one of the plurality of lower paths, when said one region has been assigned to said data by the assigning step; and writing plural portions of said data in parallel into said plurality of regions by plural ones of said plurality of lower paths, when said plurality of regions have been assigned to said data by the assigning step.

Claim 15

In a disc array system which includes a plurality of disc storage devices and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths, a method for controlling accesses to the plurality of disc storage devices comprising steps, executed by the array controller, of: assigning either one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices when data given by the upper device through the one upper path requires a data transfer rate lower than a predetermined data transfer rate or a plurality of regions belonging to different ones of the plurality of disc storage devices when the data given by the upper device through the one upper path requires a data transfer rate higher than the predetermined data transfer rate; writing said data into said one region by way of one of the plurality of lower paths, when said one region has been assigned to said data by the assigning step; and writing plural portions of said data in parallel into said plurality of regions by plural ones of said plurality of lower paths, when said plurality of regions have been assigned to said data by the assigning step.

Claim 16

A method according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined data transfer rate is a transfer rate during recording or reproducing by a head.

Claim 17

In a disc array system which includes a plurality of disc storage devices and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths, a method for controlling accesses to the plurality of disc storage devices comprising steps, executed by the disc array controller, of: dividing data into plural portions when the length of the data given by the upper device through the one upper path is larger than a predetermined value; not dividing data when the length of the data given by the upper device through the upper path is smaller than the predetermined value; writing said plural portions of said data in parallel into a plurality of regions belonging to plural ones of said disc storage devices by plural ones of said plurality of lower paths; and writing said data into one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices by one of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 18

In a disc array system which includes a plurality of disc storage devices and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths, a method for controlling accesses to the plurality of disc storage devices comprising steps, executed by the disc array controller, of: dividing data into plural portions when the length of the data given by the upper device through the one upper path is larger than a predetermined value; not dividing data when the length of the data given by the upper device through the upper path is smaller than the predetermined value; writing said plural portions of said data in parallel into a plurality of regions belonging to plural ones of said disc storage devices by plural ones of said plurality of lower paths; and writing said data into one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices by one of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 19

A method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of: dividing data, larger than another predetermined value which is larger than said predetermined value, given by the upper device through the one upper path into a larger number of plural portions than a total number of the plural portions of said data; and writing said larger number of plural portions of said data in parallel into a larger plurality of regions belonging to more parallel ones of said plurality of disc devices by more plural ones of said plurality of lower paths.

Claim 20

In a disc array system which includes a plurality of disc storage devices and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths, a method of controlling accesses to the plurality of disc storage devices comprising steps, executed by the disc array controller, of: dividing data of first kind given by the upper device through the one upper path into plural portions, the data of first kind being data for which the upper device has requested a data transfer rate higher than a predetermined data transfer rate; not dividing data of second kind given by the upper device through the one upper path, the data of second kind being data for which the upper device has requested a data transfer rate lower than the predetermined data transfer rate; writing said plural portions of said data of first kind in parallel into a plurality of regions belonging to plural ones of said disc storage devices by plural ones of said plurality of lower paths; and writing said data of second kind into one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices by one of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 21

In a disc array system which includes a plurality of disc storage devices and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths, a method of controlling accesses to the plurality of disc storage devices comprising steps, executed by the disc array controller, of: dividing data of first kind given by the upper device through the one upper path into plural portions, the data of first kind being data for which the upper device has requested a data transfer rate higher than a predetermined data transfer rate; not dividing data of second kind given by the upper device through the one upper path, the data of second kind being data for which the upper device has requested a data transfer rate lower than the predetermined data transfer rate; writing said plural portions of said data of first kind in parallel into a plurality of regions belonging to plural ones of said disc storage devices by plural ones of said plurality of lower paths; and writing said data of second kind into one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices by one of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 22

A method according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined data transfer rate is a data transfer rate during recording or reproducing by a head.

Claim 23

A disc array system, comprising: a plurality of disc storage devices; and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths; the disc array controller comprises: means for dividing data of first kind given by the upper device through the one upper path into plural portions, the data of first kind being data for which the upper device has designated a division number which is larger than one, means for not dividing data of a second kind given by the upper device through the one upper path, the data of the second kind being data for which the upper device has not designated a division number which is larger than one, means for writing said plural portions of said data of first kind in parallel into a plurality of regions belonging to plural ones of said disc storage devices by plural ones of said plurality of lower paths, and means for writing said data of second kind into one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices by one of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 24

A disc array system, comprising: a plurality of disc storage devices; and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths; the disc array controller comprises: means for dividing data of first kind given by the upper device through the one upper path into plural portions, the data of first kind being data for which the upper device has designated a division number which is larger than one, means for not dividing data of a second kind given by the upper device through the one upper path, the data of the second kind being data for which the upper device has not designated a division number which is larger than one, means for writing said plural portions of said data of first kind in parallel into a plurality of regions belonging to plural ones of said disc storage devices by plural ones of said plurality of lower paths, and means for writing said data of second kind into one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices by one of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 25

A disc array system, comprising: a plurality of disc storage devices, and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths, the disc array controller comprising: means for receiving a region assignment request given by the upper device for a data set through the one upper path, said request designating a length of data belonging to said data set, said data set being one which will be given by said upper device so as to be written into said plurality of disc storage devices, means for assigning to the data set, either a region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices when said data set is shorter than the designated length of data, or a plurality of regions belonging to different ones of said plurality of disc storage devices when said data set is longer than the designated length of data, means for writing data belonging to the data set as subsequently given by the upper device by the one upper path, into the one region assigned to the data set, when the one region has been assigned to the data set by the assigning means, the subsequently given data being transferred to the one region by one of the plurality of lower paths, and means for writing plural data portions of the subsequently given data in parallel into the plurality of regions assigned to the data set, when the plurality of regions have been assigned to the data set by the assigning means, the plural portions of the subsequently given data being transferred to said plurality of regions by way of plural ones of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 26

A disc array system, comprising: a plurality of disc storage devices, and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths, the disc array controller comprising: means for receiving a region assignment request given by the upper device for a data set through the one upper path, said request designating a length of data belonging to said data set, said data set being one which will be given by said upper device so as to be written into said plurality of disc storage devices, means for assigning to the data set, either a region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices when said data set is shorter than the designated length of data, or a plurality of regions belonging to different ones of said plurality of disc storage devices when said data set is longer than the designated length of data, means for writing data belonging to the data set as subsequently given by the upper device by the one upper path, into the one region assigned to the data set, when the one region has been assigned to the data set by the assigning means, the subsequently given data being transferred to the one region by one of the plurality of lower paths, and means for writing plural data portions of the subsequently given data in parallel into the plurality of regions assigned to the data set, when the plurality of regions have been assigned to the data set by the assigning means, the plural portions of the subsequently given data being transferred to said plurality of regions by way of plural ones of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 27

A disc array system according to claim 17, wherein the assigning means includes means for selecting one of a plurality of division numbers each larger than one, as a total number of a plurality of regions to be assigned to the data set, so that the larger the designated length of data is, the larger the selected division number is, when a plurality of regions are to be assigned to the data set.

Claim 28

A disc array system according to claim 18, wherein the selecting means includes means for determining a division number to be selected to be a predetermined division number which is larger than 1 when the length of the data is longer than the designated length of data and a second designated length of data.

Claim 29

A disc array system, comprising: a plurality of disc storage devices; and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths; the disc array controller comprises: means for receiving a region assignment request given by the upper device for a data set through the one upper path, said request designating a data transfer rate by which data belonging to the data set is to be transferred, means for assigning to the data set, either a region belonging to one of the plurality of disc devices when said data set requires a data transfer rate lower than the designated data transfer rate or a plurality of regions belonging to different ones of said plurality of disc storage devices when said data set requires a data transfer rate higher than the designated data transfer rate, means for writing data belonging to the data set as subsequently given by the upper device by way of the one upper path, into the one region assigned to the data set, when the one region has been assigned to the data set by the assigning means, the subsequently given data being transferred to the one region by way of one of the plurality of lower paths, and means for writing plural data portions of the subsequently given data in parallel into the plurality of regions assigned to the data set, when the plurality of regions have been assigned to the data set by the assigning means, the plural portions of the subsequently given data being transferred to said plurality of regions by plural ones of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 30

A disc array system, comprising: a plurality of disc storage devices; and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths; the disc array controller comprises: means for receiving a region assignment request given by the upper device for a data set through the one upper path, said request designating a data transfer rate by which data belonging to the data set is to be transferred, means for assigning to the data set, either a region belonging to one of the plurality of disc devices when said data set requires a data transfer rate lower than the designated data transfer rate or a plurality of regions belonging to different ones of said plurality of disc storage devices when said data set requires a data transfer rate higher than the designated data transfer rate, means for writing data belonging to the data set as subsequently given by the upper device by way of the one upper path, into the one region assigned to the data set, when the one region has been assigned to the data set by the assigning means, the subsequently given data being transferred to the one region by way of one of the plurality of lower paths, and means for writing plural data portions of the subsequently given data in parallel into the plurality of regions assigned to the data set, when the plurality of regions have been assigned to the data set by the assigning means, the plural portions of the subsequently given data being transferred to said plurality of regions by plural ones of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 31

A disc array system according to claim 20, wherein the designated data transfer rate is a transfer rate during recording or reproducing by a head.

Claim 32

A disc array system, comprising: a plurality of disc storage devices, and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by means of at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths; the disc array controller comprises: means for assigning either one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices when data given by the upper device through the one upper path is shorter than a predetermined length of the data or a plurality of regions belonging to different ones of the plurality of disc storage devices when the data given by the upper device through the one upper path is longer than the predetermined length of the data, means for writing the data into the one region by way of one of the plurality of lower paths, when the one region has been assigned to the data by the assigning means, and means for writing plural portions of the data in parallel into the plurality of regions by way of plural ones of said plurality of lower paths, when the plurality of regions have been assigned to the data by the assigning means.

Claim 33

A disc array system, comprising: a plurality of disc storage devices, and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by means of at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths; the disc array controller comprises: means for assigning either one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices when data given by the upper device through the one upper path is shorter than a predetermined length of the data or a plurality of regions belonging to different ones of the plurality of disc storage devices when the data given by the upper device through the one upper path is longer than the predetermined length of the data, means for writing the data into the one region by way of one of the plurality of lower paths, when the one region has been assigned to the data by the assigning means, and means for writing plural portions of the data in parallel into the plurality of regions by way of plural ones of said plurality of lower paths, when the plurality of regions have been assigned to the data by the assigning means.

Claim 34

A disc array system according to claim 22, wherein the assigning means increases a total number of the plurality of regions assigned to the data, when the length of the data is further longer.

Claim 35

A disc array system according to claim 23, wherein the assigning means includes means for determining a division number to be selected to be a predetermined division number which is larger than 1 when the length of the data is longer than the designated length of data and a second designated length of data.

Claim 36

A disc array system, comprising: a plurality of disc storage devices; and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths; the disc array controller comprises: means for assigning either one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices when data given by the upper device through the one upper path requires a data transfer rate lower than a predetermined data transfer rate or a plurality of regions belonging to different ones of the plurality of disc storage devices when the data given by the upper device through the one upper path requires a data transfer rate higher than the predetermined data transfer rate, means for writing said data into said one region by one of the plurality of lower paths, when said one region has been assigned to said data by the assigning means, and means for writing plural portions of said data in parallel into said plurality of regions by plural ones of said plurality of lower paths, when said plurality of regions have been assigned to said data by the assigning means.

Claim 37

A disc array system, comprising: a plurality of disc storage devices; and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths; the disc array controller comprises: means for assigning either one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices when data given by the upper device through the one upper path requires a data transfer rate lower than a predetermined data transfer rate or a plurality of regions belonging to different ones of the plurality of disc storage devices when the data given by the upper device through the one upper path requires a data transfer rate higher than the predetermined data transfer rate, means for writing said data into said one region by one of the plurality of lower paths, when said one region has been assigned to said data by the assigning means, and means for writing plural portions of said data in parallel into said plurality of regions by plural ones of said plurality of lower paths, when said plurality of regions have been assigned to said data by the assigning means.

Claim 38

A disc array system according to claim 25, wherein the predetermined data transfer rate is a transfer rate during recording or reproducing by a head.

Claim 39

A disc array system comprises: a plurality of disc storage devices; and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths; the disc array controller comprises: means for dividing data when the length of the data given by the upper device through the one upper path is larger than a predetermined value, means for not dividing data when the length of the data given by the upper device through the upper path is smaller than the predetermined value, means for writing said plural portions of said data in parallel into a plurality of regions belonging to plural ones of said disc storage devices by plural ones of said plurality of lower paths; and means for writing said data into one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices by one of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 40

A disc array system comprises: a plurality of disc storage devices; and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by a plurality of lower paths; the disc array controller comprises: means for dividing data when the length of the data given by the upper device through the one upper path is larger than a predetermined value, means for not dividing data when the length of the data given by the upper device through the upper path is smaller than the predetermined value, means for writing said plural portions of said data in parallel into a plurality of regions belonging to plural ones of said disc storage devices by plural ones of said plurality of lower paths; and means for writing said data into one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices by one of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 41

A disc array system according to claim 27, further comprising: means for dividing data larger than another predetermined value which is larger than said predetermined values given by the upper device through the one upper path into a more number of plural portions than a total number of the plural portions of said data; and means for writing said larger number of plural portions of said data in parallel into a more plurality of regions belonging to more plural ones of said plurality of disc devices by way of more plural ones of said plurality lower paths.

Claim 42

A disc array system, comprising: a plurality of disc storage devices; and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by means of a plurality of lower paths; the disc array controller comprises: means for dividing data of a first kind given by the upper device through the one upper path into plural portions, the data of first kind being data for which the upper device has requested a data transfer rate higher than a predetermined data transfer rate, means for not dividing data of second kind given by the upper device through the one upper path, the data of second kind being data for which the upper device has requested a data transfer rate lower than the predetermined data transfer rate, means for writing said plural portions of said data of first kind in parallel into a plurality of regions belonging to plural ones of said disc storage devices by plural ones of said plurality of lower paths, and means for writing said data of second kind into one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices by one of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 43

A disc array system, comprising: a plurality of disc storage devices; and a disc array controller connected to an upper device by at least one upper path and to said plurality of disc storage devices by means of a plurality of lower paths; the disc array controller comprises: means for dividing data of a first kind given by the upper device through the one upper path into plural portions, the data of first kind being data for which the upper device has requested a data transfer rate higher than a predetermined data transfer rate, means for not dividing data of second kind given by the upper device through the one upper path, the data of second kind being data for which the upper device has requested a data transfer rate lower than the predetermined data transfer rate, means for writing said plural portions of said data of first kind in parallel into a plurality of regions belonging to plural ones of said disc storage devices by plural ones of said plurality of lower paths, and means for writing said data of second kind into one region belonging to one of the plurality of disc storage devices by one of the plurality of lower paths.

Claim 44

A disc array system according to claim 29, wherein the predetermined data transfer rate is a data transfer rate during recording or reproducing by a head.