US5802264A — Background data reconstruction in a storage devic…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 253 words

A storage device array system that has the ability to conduct data transfers with a host system during data reconstruction, comprising: a plurality of storage devices; a spare storage device for use in replacing a first storage device of said plurality of storage devices when said first storage device is in a first failed state; wherein said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device are for storing groups of data, each group having data that are stored on different storage devices of said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device; array control means for controlling a write data transfer, involving a first group of data, between the storage device array system and the host system, said array control means for performing a first reconstruction of data contained in said first storage device onto said spare storage device, when said first storage device is in said first failed state, said first reconstruction including reconstruction of data at least at a reconstruction boundary that is a current location in the storage device array system at which said first reconstruction of data is occurring; and said array control means for conducting said write data transfer with the host system during said first reconstruction of data; wherein in conducting said write data transfer, said array control means, when writing prior to said reconstruction boundary, writes data of said first group to said spare storage device and, when writing after said reconstruction boundary, writes data of said first group to said first storage device.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 253 words

A storage device array system that has the ability to conduct data transfers with a host system during data reconstruction, comprising: a plurality of storage devices; a spare storage device for use in replacing a first storage device of said plurality of storage devices when said first storage device is in a first failed state; wherein said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device are for storing groups of data, each group having data that are stored on different storage devices of said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device; array control means for controlling a write data transfer, involving a first group of data, between the storage device array system and the host system, said array control means for performing a first reconstruction of data contained in said first storage device onto said spare storage device, when said first storage device is in said first failed state, said first reconstruction including reconstruction of data at least at a reconstruction boundary that is a current location in the storage device array system at which said first reconstruction of data is occurring; and said array control means for conducting said write data transfer with the host system during said first reconstruction of data; wherein in conducting said write data transfer, said array control means, when writing prior to said reconstruction boundary, writes data of said first group to said spare storage device and, when writing after said reconstruction boundary, writes data of said first group to said first storage device.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 266 words

A storage device array system that has the ability to conduct data transfers with a host system during reconstruction, comprising: a plurality of storage devices, wherein each of said plurality of storage devices is in one of the following states: an operable state in which data transfers with the host system can occur, and a failed state in which data transfers with the host system are inhibited; a spare storage device for use in replacing a first storage device of said plurality of storage devices when said first storage device is in a first failed state, wherein said first storage device transfers data with the host system during a data transfer between said storage device array system and the host system when said first storage device is in said first failed state; wherein said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device are for storing groups of data, each group having data that are stored on different storage devices of said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device; and array control means for controlling read and write transfers of data, said array control means for performing a first reconstruction of data contained in said first storage device onto said spare storage device, when said first storage device is in said first failed state and with said array control means for proceeding with said first reconstruction when one of said plurality of storage devices different from said first storage device cannot provide necessary data for said first reconstruction; and for conducting said data transfer with the host system during said first reconstruction of data.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 266 words

A storage device array system that has the ability to conduct data transfers with a host system during reconstruction, comprising: a plurality of storage devices, wherein each of said plurality of storage devices is in one of the following states: an operable state in which data transfers with the host system can occur, and a failed state in which data transfers with the host system are inhibited; a spare storage device for use in replacing a first storage device of said plurality of storage devices when said first storage device is in a first failed state, wherein said first storage device transfers data with the host system during a data transfer between said storage device array system and the host system when said first storage device is in said first failed state; wherein said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device are for storing groups of data, each group having data that are stored on different storage devices of said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device; and array control means for controlling read and write transfers of data, said array control means for performing a first reconstruction of data contained in said first storage device onto said spare storage device, when said first storage device is in said first failed state and with said array control means for proceeding with said first reconstruction when one of said plurality of storage devices different from said first storage device cannot provide necessary data for said first reconstruction; and for conducting said data transfer with the host system during said first reconstruction of data.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

A storage device array system, as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said array control means copies data from said first storage device to said spare storage device.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 238 words

A storage device array system that has the ability to conduct data transfers with a host system during data reconstruction, comprising: a plurality of storage devices; a spare storage device for use in replacing a first storage device of said plurality of storage devices when said first storage device is in a first failed state; wherein said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device are for storing groups of data, each group having data that are stored on different storage devices of said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device; and array control means for controlling A read data transfer between the storage device array system and the host system, said array control means far performing a first reconstruction of data contained in said first storage device onto said spare storage device, when said first storage device is in said first failed state, said first reconstruction including reconstruction of data at least at a reconstruction boundary that is a current location in the storage device array system at which said first reconstruction of data is occurring; and said array control lamp for conducting said read data transfer with the host system during said first reconstruction of data; wherein, in conducting said read data transfer, said array control means reads data following said reconstruction boundary from said first storage device and other of said plurality of storage devices in addition to said first storage device.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 238 words

A storage device array system that has the ability to conduct data transfers with a host system during data reconstruction, comprising: a plurality of storage devices; a spare storage device for use in replacing a first storage device of said plurality of storage devices when said first storage device is in a first failed state; wherein said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device are for storing groups of data, each group having data that are stored on different storage devices of said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device; and array control means for controlling A read data transfer between the storage device array system and the host system, said array control means far performing a first reconstruction of data contained in said first storage device onto said spare storage device, when said first storage device is in said first failed state, said first reconstruction including reconstruction of data at least at a reconstruction boundary that is a current location in the storage device array system at which said first reconstruction of data is occurring; and said array control lamp for conducting said read data transfer with the host system during said first reconstruction of data; wherein, in conducting said read data transfer, said array control means reads data following said reconstruction boundary from said first storage device and other of said plurality of storage devices in addition to said first storage device.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 41 words

A storage device array system, as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said array control means reads data prior to said reconstruction boundary from said spare storage device and other of said plurality of storage devices different from said first storage device.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 281 words

A storage device array system having fault-tolerance and being subject to a first predetermined condition related to its operation, comprising: a plurality of storage devices, wherein each of said plurality of storage devices is in one of the following states: an operable state in which data can be written to and read from the each storage device by a host system, and a failed state in which data can be written to, and read from, the each storage device by the host system but such operation is inhibited; a spare storage device for use in replacing a first storage device of said plurality of storage devices that is in the failed state; wherein said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device are for storing groups of data, each group having data that are stored on different devices of said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device; and array control means for controlling a reading by the host system of data from and a writing by the host system of data to said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device, said array control means for performing a first reconstruction of data contained in said first storage device onto said spare storage device when said first storage device is in the failed state using data from said plurality of storage devices different from said first storage device; and for writing data from the host system to said plurality of storage devices during said first reconstruction; wherein, when a second of said plurality of storage devices is incapable of providing necessary data for said first reconstruction, said first reconstruction proceeds when at least said first predetermined condition exists.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 281 words

A storage device array system having fault-tolerance and being subject to a first predetermined condition related to its operation, comprising: a plurality of storage devices, wherein each of said plurality of storage devices is in one of the following states: an operable state in which data can be written to and read from the each storage device by a host system, and a failed state in which data can be written to, and read from, the each storage device by the host system but such operation is inhibited; a spare storage device for use in replacing a first storage device of said plurality of storage devices that is in the failed state; wherein said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device are for storing groups of data, each group having data that are stored on different devices of said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device; and array control means for controlling a reading by the host system of data from and a writing by the host system of data to said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device, said array control means for performing a first reconstruction of data contained in said first storage device onto said spare storage device when said first storage device is in the failed state using data from said plurality of storage devices different from said first storage device; and for writing data from the host system to said plurality of storage devices during said first reconstruction; wherein, when a second of said plurality of storage devices is incapable of providing necessary data for said first reconstruction, said first reconstruction proceeds when at least said first predetermined condition exists.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 33 words

A storage device array system having fault-tolerance, as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said first predetermined condition includes data from said first storage device being able to be used for said first reconstruction.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 41 words

A storage device array system having fault-tolerance as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said array control means causes identical data to be written from the host system to said first storage device and said spare storage device during said first reconstruction.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 53 words

A storage device array system having fault-tolerance, as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said array control means copies data from said first storage device to said spare storage device in the event that said second storage device of said plurality of storage devices is incapable of providing necessary data for said first reconstruction.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 54 words

A storage device array system having fault-tolerance, as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said array control means reconstructs first data contained in said spare storage device on a replacement storage device for said first storage device, said first data provided on said spare storage device from said first storage device during said first reconstruction.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 306 words

A method for use in conducting data transfers between a storage device array system and a host system during reconstruction in the storage device array system, comprising: providing a plurality of storage devices, wherein each of said plurality of storage devices is in one of the following states: an operable state in which data transfers can occur and a failed state in which data transfers are inhibited; providing a spare storage device for use in replacing a first storage device of said plurality of storage devices when said first storage device is in a first failed state, wherein said first storage device transfers data with the host system during a read data transfer and a write data transfer between the storage device array system and the host system when said first storage device is in said first failed state and said first storage device having boundary information; wherein both said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device are included in the storage device array system, said storage device array system for storing groups of data, each group having data that are stored on different storage devices of said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device; reconstructing data contained in said first storage device of said plurality of storage devices that is in said first failed state on said spare storage device; and transferring data between said storage device array system and the host system before said step of reconstructing is completed to said storage device array system without utilizing said boundary information related to said step of reconstructing; wherein a predetermined duration related to at least one of said step of reconstructing and said step of transferring is used for determining when to switch between: (a) operations for performing said step of reconstructing; and (b) operations for performing said step of transferring.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 306 words

A method for use in conducting data transfers between a storage device array system and a host system during reconstruction in the storage device array system, comprising: providing a plurality of storage devices, wherein each of said plurality of storage devices is in one of the following states: an operable state in which data transfers can occur and a failed state in which data transfers are inhibited; providing a spare storage device for use in replacing a first storage device of said plurality of storage devices when said first storage device is in a first failed state, wherein said first storage device transfers data with the host system during a read data transfer and a write data transfer between the storage device array system and the host system when said first storage device is in said first failed state and said first storage device having boundary information; wherein both said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device are included in the storage device array system, said storage device array system for storing groups of data, each group having data that are stored on different storage devices of said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device; reconstructing data contained in said first storage device of said plurality of storage devices that is in said first failed state on said spare storage device; and transferring data between said storage device array system and the host system before said step of reconstructing is completed to said storage device array system without utilizing said boundary information related to said step of reconstructing; wherein a predetermined duration related to at least one of said step of reconstructing and said step of transferring is used for determining when to switch between: (a) operations for performing said step of reconstructing; and (b) operations for performing said step of transferring.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 264 words

A method for providing write access, by a host system, to a storage device array during reconstruction of a failed storage device onto a spare storage device that provides fault-tolerance comprising: providing a plurality of storage devices, wherein each of said plurality of storage devices is in one of the following states: an operable state in which data can be written to, and read from, the storage device, and a failed state in which data can be written to, and read from, the storage device but such operation is inhibited; providing a spare storage device for use in replacing one of said plurality of storage devices that is in the failed state; wherein both said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device are included in the storage device array, said storage device array for storing groups of data, each group having data that are stored on different storage devices of said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device; reconstructing the data contained in a first storage device of said plurality of storage devices that is in the failed state on said spare storage device using other of said plurality of storage devices; and writing data to said storage device array from the host system during said step of reconstructing; wherein said step of reconstructing data in said first storage device on said spare storage device proceeds, by copying data from said first storage device to said spare storage device, when a second storage device of said plurality of storage devices is incapable of providing data for said step of reconstructing.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 264 words

A method for providing write access, by a host system, to a storage device array during reconstruction of a failed storage device onto a spare storage device that provides fault-tolerance comprising: providing a plurality of storage devices, wherein each of said plurality of storage devices is in one of the following states: an operable state in which data can be written to, and read from, the storage device, and a failed state in which data can be written to, and read from, the storage device but such operation is inhibited; providing a spare storage device for use in replacing one of said plurality of storage devices that is in the failed state; wherein both said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device are included in the storage device array, said storage device array for storing groups of data, each group having data that are stored on different storage devices of said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device; reconstructing the data contained in a first storage device of said plurality of storage devices that is in the failed state on said spare storage device using other of said plurality of storage devices; and writing data to said storage device array from the host system during said step of reconstructing; wherein said step of reconstructing data in said first storage device on said spare storage device proceeds, by copying data from said first storage device to said spare storage device, when a second storage device of said plurality of storage devices is incapable of providing data for said step of reconstructing.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 30 words

A method, as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said step of writing includes writing, from the host system, identical data to said first storage device and said spare storage device.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 51 words

A method, as claimed in claim 37, wherein: said step of writing includes copying said identical data from said first storage device to said spare storage device in the event a second storage device of said plurality of storage devices is incapable of providing necessary data for said step of reconstructing.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 294 words

A storage device array system that has the ability to conduct data transfers with a host during reconstruction, comprising: a plurality of storage devices, including first and second storage devices, for storing groups of data units, each group having data units stored on different storage devices of said plurality of storage devices, each group of data redundantly encoded such that, in an absence of error, a subcollection of said plurality of storage devices is sufficient for transferring data corresponding to the group of data to said host; a spare storage device, different from said plurality of storage devices, for use in replacing said first storage device of said plurality of storage devices, a storage device array including said spare storage device and said plurality of storage devices; wherein from a first plurality of said data groups, a first plurality of said data units, including a first data unit and a second data unit, stored on said first storage device is reconstructed on said spare storage device, in a first reconstruction, when said first storage device is in a failed state in which data transfers with the host are inhibited; and array control means for controlling transfers of data between said storage device array and the host said array control means; (i) for performing said first reconstruction, said first data unit being reconstructed before said second data unit; (ii) for conducting a first transfer of data between said storage device array system and the host wherein said first transfer of data occurs between reconstruction of said first data unit and reconstruction of said second data unit during said first reconstruction; and (iii) for proceeding with said first reconstruction by using data from said first storage device and not using data from said second storage device.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 294 words

A storage device array system that has the ability to conduct data transfers with a host during reconstruction, comprising: a plurality of storage devices, including first and second storage devices, for storing groups of data units, each group having data units stored on different storage devices of said plurality of storage devices, each group of data redundantly encoded such that, in an absence of error, a subcollection of said plurality of storage devices is sufficient for transferring data corresponding to the group of data to said host; a spare storage device, different from said plurality of storage devices, for use in replacing said first storage device of said plurality of storage devices, a storage device array including said spare storage device and said plurality of storage devices; wherein from a first plurality of said data groups, a first plurality of said data units, including a first data unit and a second data unit, stored on said first storage device is reconstructed on said spare storage device, in a first reconstruction, when said first storage device is in a failed state in which data transfers with the host are inhibited; and array control means for controlling transfers of data between said storage device array and the host said array control means; (i) for performing said first reconstruction, said first data unit being reconstructed before said second data unit; (ii) for conducting a first transfer of data between said storage device array system and the host wherein said first transfer of data occurs between reconstruction of said first data unit and reconstruction of said second data unit during said first reconstruction; and (iii) for proceeding with said first reconstruction by using data from said first storage device and not using data from said second storage device.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 41 words

A storage device array system, as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said array control means reconstructs data contained in said spare storage device, which is data from said first storage device, on a replacement storage device for said first storage device.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 34 words

A storage device array system, as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said array control means conducts a write data transfer and conducts a read data transfer between said storage device array and the host.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 33 words

A storage device array system, as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said failed state includes the ability of said first storage device to accomplish at least a read data transfer to the host.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 36 words

A storage device array system, as claimed in claim 18, wherein: said failed state includes the ability of said first storage device to accomplish a read data transfer and a write data transfer with the host.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 25 words

A storage device array system, as claimed in claim 19, wherein: said array control means writes data from the host to said storage device array.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 31 words

A storage device array system, as claimed in claim 20, wherein: said array control means writes identical data from the host to said first storage device and said spare storage device.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 36 words

A storage device array system, as claimed in claim 20, wherein: said array control means writes identical data from the host to said first storage device and said spare storage device at substantially the same time.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 25 words

A storage device array system, as claimed in claim 19, wherein: said array control means reads data from said storage device array to the host.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 30 words

A storage device array system, as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said array control means writes data from the host to said spare storage device prior to a reconstruction boundary.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 44 words

A storage device array, as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said array control means uses data from other of said plurality of storage devices different from said first storage device to reconstruct data contained in said first storage device onto said spare storage device.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 28 words

A storage device array system, as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said plurality of storage devices includes one of the following: a disk drive and a tape drive.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 33 words

A storage device array system, as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said pluraity of storage devices includes a parity storage device for containing parity data on data stored in said storage device array.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 37 words

A storage device array system as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said array control means defines the direction of at least one of the following: operations relating to said first reconstruction and operations relating to data transfers.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 27 words

A storage device array system, as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said array control means copies data from said first storage device to said spare storage device.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 84 words

A storage device array system, as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said array control means provides data to the host during said first reconstruction wherein data provided from after a reconstruction boundary is provided by said first storage device and other of said plurality of storage devices different from said first storage device, said reconstruction boundary defining a storage location in said first storage device prior to which said first reconstruction has been accomplished and after which said first reconstruction has not been accomplished.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 343 words

A method for conducting data transfers with a host during reconstruction in a storage device array system, comprising: providing a plurality of storage devices for storing groups having data units, said data units of each group are stored on different storage devices of said plurality of storage devices, the each group having data units redundantly encoded such that, in an absence of error, a subcollection of said plurality of storage devices is sufficient for transferring data corresponding to the each group of data units to the host; providing a spare storage device, different from said plurality of storage devices, for use in replacing a first storage device of said plurality of storage devices, wherein a storage device array includes said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device; reconstructing a first plurality of data units from said first storage device of said plurality of storage devices on said spare storage device when said first storage device is in a failed state in which data transfers with the host are inhibited, said first plurality of data units included in a first plurality of data groups; accessing said first plurality of data units on said spare storage device after said step of reconstructing for a host initiated data transfer request which results in transferring data corresponding to said first plurality of data groups between: (i) a set of storage devices including said spare storage device and including storage devices of said storage device array excluding said first storage device; and (ii) the host; wherein said storage devices of said set of storage devices substantially simultaneously read or write said first plurality of data groups in fulfilling the host initiated data transfer request; transferring data corresponding to said first plurality of data groups between said storage device array and the host during said step of reconstructing; wherein a data location in each of said first storage device and said spare storage device is accessed during said step of transferring when said step of transferring includes a write to said storage device array from the host.

Claim 39

Independent Claim 343 words

A method for conducting data transfers with a host during reconstruction in a storage device array system, comprising: providing a plurality of storage devices for storing groups having data units, said data units of each group are stored on different storage devices of said plurality of storage devices, the each group having data units redundantly encoded such that, in an absence of error, a subcollection of said plurality of storage devices is sufficient for transferring data corresponding to the each group of data units to the host; providing a spare storage device, different from said plurality of storage devices, for use in replacing a first storage device of said plurality of storage devices, wherein a storage device array includes said plurality of storage devices and said spare storage device; reconstructing a first plurality of data units from said first storage device of said plurality of storage devices on said spare storage device when said first storage device is in a failed state in which data transfers with the host are inhibited, said first plurality of data units included in a first plurality of data groups; accessing said first plurality of data units on said spare storage device after said step of reconstructing for a host initiated data transfer request which results in transferring data corresponding to said first plurality of data groups between: (i) a set of storage devices including said spare storage device and including storage devices of said storage device array excluding said first storage device; and (ii) the host; wherein said storage devices of said set of storage devices substantially simultaneously read or write said first plurality of data groups in fulfilling the host initiated data transfer request; transferring data corresponding to said first plurality of data groups between said storage device array and the host during said step of reconstructing; wherein a data location in each of said first storage device and said spare storage device is accessed during said step of transferring when said step of transferring includes a write to said storage device array from the host.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 39 words

A method, as claimed in claim 31, wherein: said step of reconstructing includes reconstructing data contained in said spare storage device, which is data from said first storage device, on a replacement storage device for said first storage device.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 45 words

A method, as claimed in claim 32, wherein: said step of reconstructing includes copying data from said first storage device to said spare storage device in the event one of said plurality of storage devices is incapable of providing data that is necessary for reconstruction.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 40 words

A method, as claimed in claim 31, wherein: said step of transferring includes at least one of the following: writing data from the host to said storage device array and reading data by the host from said storage device array.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method, as claimed in claim 31, wherein: said failed state includes an ability by said first storage device to perform a read data transfer and a write data transfer with the host.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 23 words

A method, as claimed in claim 31, wherein: said step of transferring includes writing data to said storage device array from the host.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 36 words

A method, as claimed in claim 36, wherein: said step of reconstructing is conducted without monitoring storage locations associated with data being written to said storage device array from the host during said step of writing.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method, as claimed in claim 31, wherein: said step of transferring includes writing identical data from the host to said first storage device and said spare storage device.

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

Background data reconstruction in a storage device array system

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