US5802069A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implementing mass storage device functions using host processor memory
Assignee: Intel Corp
•
Filing: 1996-03-28
•
Granted: 1998-09-01
•
Expires: 2016-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A computer system comprises a host processor, host memory, and a mass storage device interconnected via a high-speed data bus. An operating system and a driver for the mass storage device are implemented on the host processor. The mass storage device is capable of being connected to the computer system via the data bus, such that a portion of the host memory is allocated for use by the mass storage device; the mass storage device uses the host memory portion for one or more particular mass storage device operations; and the operating system and the driver are unaware of how the mass storage device uses the host memory portion. In a preferred embodiment, the mass storage device requests and the host processor allocates a portion of host memory for exclusive use by the mass storage device to perform such functions as predictive failure analysis, maintenance of deallocated sector lists, and data prefetching.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Coulson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:57
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/70; G06F21/71; G06F21/82; G06F21/85; G06F3/00; G06F3/06; G06F3/0601; G06F3/0668; G06F3/0671; G06F3/0673
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A mass storage device for use with a computer system, wherein: the computer system comprises a host processor, host memory, and a data bus; an operating system and a driver for the mass storage device are implemented on the host processor; and the mass storage device is capable of being connected to the computer system via the data bus, such that: a portion of the host memory is allocated for use by the mass storage device; the mass storage device uses the host memory portion for one or more particular mass storage device operations; and the operating system and the driver are unaware of how the mass storage device uses the host memory portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A mass storage device for use with a computer system, wherein: the computer system comprises a host processor, host memory, and a data bus; an operating system and a driver for the mass storage device are implemented on the host processor; and the mass storage device is capable of being connected to the computer system via the data bus, such that: a portion of the host memory is allocated for use by the mass storage device; the mass storage device uses the host memory portion for one or more particular mass storage device operations; and the operating system and the driver are unaware of how the mass storage device uses the host memory portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mass storage device of claim 1, wherein the mass storage device operations comprise storage of a deallocated sector list in the host memory portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
104 words
The mass storage device of claim 2, wherein: the mass storage device copies the deallocated sector list from mass storage device media to the host memory portion; the mass storage device accesses the deallocated sector list stored in the host memory portion to determine whether a sector of the mass storage device has been deallocated and remapped to another sector of the mass storage device; the mass storage device updates the deallocated sector list stored in the host memory portion as necessary; and the mass storage device copies the updated deallocated sector list from the host memory portion to the mass storage device media.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mass storage device of claim 1, wherein the mass storage device operations comprise copying data from a sector to be deallocated to a different sector of the mass storage device using the host memory portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The mass storage device of claim 4, wherein: the mass storage device copies the data from the sector to be deallocated to the host memory portion; and the mass storage device copies the data from the host memory portion to the different sector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mass storage device of claim 1, wherein the mass storage device operations comprise predictive failure analysis using the host memory portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
The mass storage device of claim 6, wherein: the mass storage device copies one or more data structures from mass storage device media to the host memory portion; the mass storage device performs the predictive failure analysis using the data structures stored in the host memory portion; the mass storage device updates the data structures stored in the host memory portion as necessary; and the mass storage device copies the updated data structures from the host memory portion to the mass storage device media.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The mass storage device of claim 1, wherein the mass storage device operations comprise data prefetching using the host memory portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
The mass storage device of claim 8, wherein: the mass storage device prefetches data from mass storage device media to the host memory portion; the mass storage device receives a request from the host processor to read data from the mass storage device media; the mass storage device determines that the data has already been prefetched to the host memory portion; and the mass storage device instructs the host processor to copy the prefetched data from the host memory portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mass storage device of claim 1, wherein the host memory portion is allocated for use by the mass storage device at configuration time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The mass storage device of claim 10, wherein: the mass storage device requests from the host processor an allocation of a portion of the host memory of requested size; and the mass storage device receives from the host processor identification of location and allocated size of the host memory portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The mass storage device of claim 1, wherein the mass storage device is a disk drive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
405 words
The mass storage device of claim 1, wherein: the host memory portion is allocated for use by the mass storage device at configuration time, wherein: the mass storage device requests from the host processor an allocation of a portion of the host memory of requested size; and the mass storage device receives from the host processor identification of location and allocated size of the host memory portion; the mass storage device operations comprise storage of a deallocated sector list, wherein: the mass storage device copies a deallocated sector list from mass storage device media to the host memory portion; the mass storage device accesses the deallocated sector list stored in the host memory portion to determine whether a sector of the mass storage device has been deallocated and remapped to another sector of the mass storage device; the mass storage device updates the deallocated sector list stored in the host memory portion as necessary; and the mass storage device copies the updated deallocated sector list from the host memory portion to the mass storage device media; the mass storage device operations further comprise copying data from a sector to be deallocated to a different sector of the mass storage device, wherein: the mass storage device copies the data from the sector to be deallocated to the host memory portion; and the mass storage device copies the data from the host memory portion to the different sector; the mass storage device operations further comprise predictive failure analysis, wherein: the mass storage device copies one or more data structures from mass storage device media to the host memory portion; the mass storage device performs predictive failure analysis using the data structures stored in the host memory portion; the mass storage device updates the data structures stored in the host memory portion as necessary; and the mass storage device copies the updated data structures from the host memory portion to the mass storage device media; and the mass storage device operations further comprise data prefetching, wherein: the mass storage device prefetches data from mass storage device media to the host memory portion; the mass storage device receives a request from the host processor to read data from the mass storage device media; the mass storage device determines that the data has already been prefetched to the host memory portion; and the mass storage device instructs the host processor to copy the prefetched data from the host memory portion.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for operation of a mass storage device with a computer system having a host processor, host memory, and a data bus, wherein an operating system and a driver for the mass storage device are implemented on the host processor, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving by the mass storage device an allocation of a portion of the host memory; and (b) using the host memory portion by the mass storage device to perform one or more particular mass storage device operations, wherein the operating system and the driver are unaware of how the mass storage device uses the host memory portion.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for operation of a mass storage device with a computer system having a host processor, host memory, and a data bus, wherein an operating system and a driver for the mass storage device are implemented on the host processor, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving by the mass storage device an allocation of a portion of the host memory; and (b) using the host memory portion by the mass storage device to perform one or more particular mass storage device operations, wherein the operating system and the driver are unaware of how the mass storage device uses the host memory portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the mass storage device operations comprise storage of a deallocated sector list in the host memory portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
102 words
The method of claim 15, wherein: the mass storage device copies the deallocated sector list from mass storage device media to the host memory portion; the mass storage device accesses the deallocated sector list stored in the host memory portion to determine whether a sector of the mass storage device has been deallocated and remapped to another sector of the mass storage device; the mass storage device updates the deallocated sector list stored in the host memory portion as necessary; and the mass storage device copies the updated deallocated sector list from the host memory portion to the mass storage device media.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the mass storage device operations comprise copying data from a sector to be deallocated to a different sector of the mass storage device using the host memory portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 17, wherein: the mass storage device copies the data from the sector to be deallocated to the host memory portion; and the mass storage device copies the data from the host memory portion to the different sector.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the mass storage device operations comprise predictive failure analysis using the host memory portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 19, wherein: the mass storage device copies one or more data structures from mass storage device media to the host memory portion; the mass storage device performs the predictive failure analysis using the data structures stored in the host memory portion; the mass storage device updates the data structures stored in the host memory portion as necessary; and the mass storage device copies the updated data structures from the host memory portion to the mass storage device media.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the mass storage device operations comprise data prefetching using the host memory portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 21, wherein: the mass storage device prefetches data from mass storage device media to the host memory portion; the mass storage device receives a request from the host processor to read data from the mass storage device media; the mass storage device determines that the data has already been prefetched to the host memory portion; and the mass storage device instructs the host processor to copy the prefetched data from the host memory portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the host memory portion is allocated for use by the mass storage device at configuration time.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 23, wherein: the mass storage device requests from the host processor an allocation of a portion of the host memory of requested size; and the mass storage device receives from the host processor identification of location and allocated size of the host memory portion.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the mass storage device is a disk drive.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
403 words
The method of claim 14, wherein: the host memory portion is allocated for use by the mass storage device at configuration time, wherein: the mass storage device requests from the host processor an allocation of a portion of the host memory of requested size; and the mass storage device receives from the host processor identification of location and allocated size of the host memory portion; the mass storage device operations comprise storage of a deallocated sector list, wherein: the mass storage device copies a deallocated sector list from mass storage device media to the host memory portion; the mass storage device accesses the deallocated sector list stored in the host memory portion to determine whether a sector of the mass storage device has been deallocated and remapped to another sector of the mass storage device; the mass storage device updates the deallocated sector list stored in the host memory portion as necessary; and the mass storage device copies the updated deallocated sector list from the host memory portion to the mass storage device media; the mass storage device operations further comprise copying data from a sector to be deallocated to a different sector of the mass storage device, wherein: the mass storage device copies the data from the sector to be deallocated to the host memory portion; and the mass storage device copies the data from the host memory portion to the different sector; the mass storage device operations further comprise predictive failure analysis, wherein: the mass storage device copies one or more data structures from mass storage device media to the host memory portion; the mass storage device performs predictive failure analysis using the data structures stored in the host memory portion; the mass storage device updates the data structures stored in the host memory portion as necessary; and the mass storage device copies the updated data structures from the host memory portion to the mass storage device media; and the mass storage device operations further comprise data prefetching, wherein: the mass storage device prefetches data from mass storage device media to the host memory portion; the mass storage device receives a request from the host processor to read data from the mass storage device media; the mass storage device determines that the data has already been prefetched to the host memory portion; and the mass storage device instructs the host processor to copy the prefetched data from the host memory portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
95 words
A mass storage device for use with a computer system having a host processor, host memory, and a data bus, wherein an operating system and a driver for the mass storage device are implemented on the host processor, the mass storage device comprising: (a) means for receiving an allocation of a portion of the host memory; and (b) means for using the host memory portion to perform one or more particular mass storage device operations, wherein the operating system and the driver are unaware of how the mass storage device uses the host memory portion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
95 words
A mass storage device for use with a computer system having a host processor, host memory, and a data bus, wherein an operating system and a driver for the mass storage device are implemented on the host processor, the mass storage device comprising: (a) means for receiving an allocation of a portion of the host memory; and (b) means for using the host memory portion to perform one or more particular mass storage device operations, wherein the operating system and the driver are unaware of how the mass storage device uses the host memory portion.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mass storage device of claim 27, wherein the mass storage device operations comprise storage of a deallocated sector list in the host memory portion.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
104 words
The mass storage device of claim 28, wherein: the mass storage device copies the deallocated sector list from mass storage device media to the host memory portion; the mass storage device accesses the deallocated sector list stored in the host memory portion to determine whether a sector of the mass storage device has been deallocated and remapped to another sector of the mass storage device; the mass storage device updates the deallocated sector list stored in the host memory portion as necessary; and the mass storage device copies the updated deallocated sector list from the host memory portion to the mass storage device media.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mass storage device of claim 27, wherein the mass storage device operations comprise copying data from a sector to be deallocated to a different sector of the mass storage device using the host memory portion.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
43 words
The mass storage device of claim 30, wherein: the mass storage device copies the data from the sector to be deallocated to the host memory portion; and the mass storage device copies the data from the host memory portion to the different sector.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mass storage device of claim 27, wherein the mass storage device operations comprise predictive failure analysis using the host memory portion.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
84 words
The mass storage device of claim 32, wherein: the mass storage device copies one or more data structures from mass storage device media to the host memory portion; the mass storage device performs the predictive failure analysis using the data structures stored in the host memory portion; the mass storage device updates the data structures stored in the host memory portion as necessary; and the mass storage device copies the updated data structures from the host memory portion to the mass storage device media.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
The mass storage device of claim 27, wherein the mass storage device operations comprise data prefetching using the host memory portion.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
80 words
The mass storage device of claim 34, wherein: the mass storage device prefetches data from mass storage device media to the host memory portion; the mass storage device receives a request from the host processor to read data from the mass storage device media; the mass storage device determines that the data has already been prefetched to the host memory portion; and the mass storage device instructs the host processor to copy the prefetched data from the host memory portion.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mass storage device of claim 27, wherein the host memory portion is allocated for use by the mass storage device at configuration time.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
50 words
The mass storage device of claim 36, wherein: the mass storage device requests from the host processor an allocation of a portion of the host memory of requested size; and the mass storage device receives from the host processor identification of location and allocated size of the host memory portion.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
The mass storage device of claim 27, wherein the mass storage device is a disk drive.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
405 words
The mass storage device of claim 27, wherein: the host memory portion is allocated for use by the mass storage device at configuration time, wherein: the mass storage device requests from the host processor an allocation of a portion of the host memory of requested size; and the mass storage device receives from the host processor identification of location and allocated size of the host memory portion; the mass storage device operations comprise storage of a deallocated sector list, wherein: the mass storage device copies a deallocated sector list from mass storage device media to the host memory portion; the mass storage device accesses the deallocated sector list stored in the host memory portion to determine whether a sector of the mass storage device has been deallocated and remapped to another sector of the mass storage device; the mass storage device updates the deallocated sector list stored in the host memory portion as necessary; and the mass storage device copies the updated deallocated sector list from the host memory portion to the mass storage device media; the mass storage device operations further comprise copying data from a sector to be deallocated to a different sector of the mass storage device, wherein: the mass storage device copies the data from the sector to be deallocated to the host memory portion; and the mass storage device copies the data from the host memory portion to the different sector; the mass storage device operations further comprise predictive failure analysis, wherein: the mass storage device copies one or more data structures from mass storage device media to the host memory portion; the mass storage device performs predictive failure analysis using the data structures stored in the host memory portion; the mass storage device updates the data structures stored in the host memory portion as necessary; and the mass storage device copies the updated data structures from the host memory portion to the mass storage device media; and the mass storage device operations further comprise data prefetching, wherein: the mass storage device prefetches data from mass storage device media to the host memory portion; the mass storage device receives a request from the host processor to read data from the mass storage device media; the mass storage device determines that the data has already been prefetched to the host memory portion; and the mass storage device instructs the host processor to copy the prefetched data from the host memory portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5257367A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-31 | 2002-03-02 | 2002-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-31 | 2006-03-02 | 2006-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-31 | 2010-03-02 | 2010-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |