Patent US5935205A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5935205A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer system having a plurality of computers each providing a shared storage access processing mechanism for controlling local/remote access to shared storage devices
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1996-06-21
•
Granted: 1999-08-10
•
Expires: 2016-06-21
Abstract
Abstract A computer system having a plurality of computers connected to each other by a computer coupling mechanism. Each computer includes a processor, memory, I/O device, disk control mechanism, computer coupling network adapter, disk requirement processing section connected to a system bus, and a disk connected to a disk control mechanism. The disk requirement processing section controls the disk, in response to a processing requirement for the disk from one of the processors of the other computers, based on structural definition information. The structural definition information describes a structure of the computer system. The computer system may be a loosely-coupled computer system.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideki Murayama
- 👤 Hiroshi Yashiro
- 👤 Satoshi Yoshizawa
- 👤 Kazuo Horikawa
- 👤 Takehisa Hayashi
- 👤 Hiroshi Iwamoto
- 👤 Kimitoshi Yamada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:15
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/06; G06F3/0601; G06F3/0602; G06F3/062; G06F21/00; G06F21/70; G06F21/78; G06F21/80; G06F3/0622; G06F3/0628; G06F3/0629; G06F3/0637; G06F3/0668; G06F3/067
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 90
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A computer system comprising: a plurality of computers connected to each other, wherein each computer includes a controller, responsive to a processing requirement from another computer, for controlling access to a shared memory device connected to said computer based on structural definition information which describes a structure of said computer system, and wherein said another computer controls said shared memory device connected to said computer through said controller of said another computer and said controller of said computer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A computer system comprising: a plurality of computers connected to each other, wherein each computer includes a controller, responsive to a processing requirement from another computer, for controlling access to a shared memory device connected to said computer based on structural definition information which describes a structure of said computer system, and wherein said another computer controls said shared memory device connected to said computer through said controller of said another computer and said controller of said computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A computer system according to claim 1, wherein said computer system is a loosely-coupled computer system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer system according to claim 1, wherein said computers are connected to each other by a coupling mechanism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A computer system according to claim 3, wherein said coupling mechanism is a bus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A computer system according to claim 3, wherein said coupling mechanism includes at least a switch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer system according to claim 3, wherein said coupling mechanism is an asynchronous transfer mode switching system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A computer system according to claim 1, wherein said controller comprises: a requirement acceptance judging section for checking whether access to said shared memory device from said another computer is permitted based on said structural definition information and performing control of said access if said access is permitted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A computer system according to claim 7, wherein said structural definition information includes information indicating a corresponding relation between virtual identifiers and said shared memory devices and information indicating for each virtual identifier which of said computers is permitted to access the shared memory device corresponding to said virtual identifiers, and wherein said control of said access is performed using said virtual identifiers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A computer system according to claim 1, wherein said controller comprises: a remote processing requirement section for issuing a remote processing requirement to said another computer to access said shared memory device connected to said another computer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A computer system according to claim 7, wherein said controller comprises: a remote processing requirement a section for issuing a remote processing requirement to said another computer to access said shared memory device connected to said another computer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A computer system according to claim 8, wherein said controller comprises: a remote processing requirement section for issuing a remote processing requirement to said another computer to access said shared memory device connected to said another computer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
A computer system according to claim 1, wherein said controller comprises: a remote processing requirement section for issuing a remote processing requirement to said another computer to access said shared memory device connected to said another computer; and a remote processing requirement processing section for processing said remote processing requirement when access to said shared memory device is permitted.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
94 words
A computer system according to claim 7, wherein said controller comprises: a remote processing requirement section for issuing a remote processing requirement to said another computer to access said shared memory device connected to said another computer; wherein said requirement acceptance judging section, responsive to a remote processing requirement from another computer, checks said structural definition information to determine whether access to said shared memory device is permitted; and a remote processing requirement processing section for processing said remote processing requirement from said another computer when access to said shared memory device is permitted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
94 words
A computer system according to claim 8, wherein said controller comprises: a remote processing requirement section for issuing a remote processing requirement to said another computer to access said shared memory device connected to said another computer; wherein said requirement acceptance judging section, responsive to a remote processing requirement from another computer, checks said structural definition information to determine whether access to said shared memory device is permitted; and a remote processing requirement processing section for processing said remote processing requirement from said another computer when access to said shared memory device is permitted.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer system according to claim 1, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer system according to claim 7, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer system according to claim 8, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer system according to claim 9, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer system according to claim 10, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer system according to claim 11, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer system according to claim 12, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer system according to claim 13, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer system according to claim 14, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer system according to claim 8, wherein correspondence between said virtual identifiers and said shared memory devices can be changed by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer system according to claim 11, wherein correspondence between said virtual identifiers and said shared memory devices can be changed by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer system according to claim 14, wherein correspondence between said virtual identifiers and said shared memory devices can be changed by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer system according to claim 17, wherein correspondence between said virtual identifiers and said shared memory devices can be changed by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer system according to claim 20, wherein correspondence between said virtual identifiers and said shared memory devices can be changed by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer system according to claim 23, wherein correspondence between said virtual identifiers and said shared memory devices can be changed by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
108 words
In a computer system having a plurality of computers connected to each other, wherein each computer is connected to a shared disk through a disk controller which controls access to said shared disk, said disk controller comprising: a memory for storing structural definition information which describes a structure of said computer system; and a controller, responsive to a processing requirement, from another computer for controlling access to said shared disk memory device connected to said computer based on said structural definition information, wherein said another computer controls said shared memory device connected to said computer through a disk controller connected to said another computer and said disk controller.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
108 words
In a computer system having a plurality of computers connected to each other, wherein each computer is connected to a shared disk through a disk controller which controls access to said shared disk, said disk controller comprising: a memory for storing structural definition information which describes a structure of said computer system; and a controller, responsive to a processing requirement, from another computer for controlling access to said shared disk memory device connected to said computer based on said structural definition information, wherein said another computer controls said shared memory device connected to said computer through a disk controller connected to said another computer and said disk controller.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
A disk controller according to claim 30, wherein said computer system is a loosely-coupled computer system.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
A disk controller according to claim 30, wherein said computers are connected to each other by a coupling mechanism.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
A disk controller according to claim 32, wherein said coupling mechanism is a bus.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
A disk controller according to claim 32, wherein said coupling mechanism includes at least a switch.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
A disk controller according to claim 32, wherein said coupling mechanism is an asynchronous transfer mode switching system.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
47 words
A disk controller according to claim 30, wherein said controller comprises: a requirement acceptance judging section for checking whether access to said shared disk from said another computer is permitted based on said structural definition information and performing control of said access if said access is permitted.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
61 words
A disk controller according to claim 36, wherein said structural definition information includes information indicating a corresponding relation between virtual identifiers and said shared disks and information indicating for each virtual identifier which of said computers is permitted to access the shared disk corresponding to said virtual identifiers, and wherein said control of said access is performed using said virtual identifiers.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
36 words
A disk controller according to claim 30, wherein said controller comprises: a remote processing requirement section for issuing a remote processing requirement to said another computer to access said shared disk connected to said another computer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
37 words
A disk controller according to claim 36, wherein said controller comprises: a remote processing requirement a section for issuing a remote processing requirement to said another computer to access said shared disk connected to said another computer.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
36 words
A disk controller according to claim 37, wherein said controller comprises: a remote processing requirement section for issuing a remote processing requirement to said another computer to access said shared disk connected to said another computer.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
57 words
A disk controller according to claim 30, wherein said controller comprises: a remote processing requirement section for issuing a remote processing requirement to said another computer to access said shared disk connected to said another computer; and a remote processing requirement processing section for processing said remote processing requirement when access to said shared disk is permitted.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
91 words
A disk controller according to claim 36 wherein said controller comprises: a remote processing requirement section for issuing a remote processing requirement to said another computer to access said shared disk connected to said another computer; wherein said requirement acceptance judging section, responsive to a remote processing requirement from another computer, checks said structural definition information to determine whether access to said shared disk is permitted; and a remote processing requirement processing section for processing said remote processing requirement from said another computer when access to said shared disk is permitted.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
91 words
A disk controller according to claim 36, wherein said controller comprises: a remote processing requirement section for issuing a remote processing requirement to said another computer to access said shared disk connected to said another computer; wherein said requirement acceptance judging section, responsive to a remote processing requirement from another computer, checks said structural definition information to determine whether access to said shared disk is permitted; and a remote processing requirement processing section for processing said remote processing requirement from said another computer when access to said shared disk is permitted.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
A disk controller according to claim 30, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
A disk controller according to claim 36, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
23 words
A disk controller according to claim 37, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
23 words
A disk controller according to claim 38, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
23 words
A disk controller according to claim 39, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
23 words
A disk controller according to claim 40, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
23 words
A disk controller according to claim 41, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
23 words
A disk controller according to claim 42, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
23 words
A disk controller according to claim 43, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
26 words
A disk controller according to claim 37, wherein correspondence between said virtual identifiers and said shared disks can be changed by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
26 words
A disk controller according to claim 40, wherein correspondence between said virtual identifiers and said shared disks can be changed by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
26 words
A disk controller according to claim 43, wherein correspondence between said virtual identifiers and said shared disks can be changed by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
26 words
A disk controller according to claim 46, wherein correspondence between said virtual identifiers and said shared disks can be changed by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
26 words
A disk controller according to claim 49, wherein correspondence between said virtual identifiers and said shared disks can be changed by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
26 words
A disk controller according to claim 52, wherein correspondence between said virtual identifiers and said shared disks can be changed by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a computer system having a plurality of computers connected to each other, wherein each computer is connected to a shared disk and is directed by a computer program for controlling access to said shared disk, said computer program comprising: a first code for causing said computer to store structural definition information in a memory, said structural definition information describes a structure of said computer system; and a second code for causing said computer, responsive to a processing requirement from another computer, to control access to said shared disk connected to said computer based on said structural definition information, wherein said another computer controls said shared disk connected to said computer through said computer program of said another computer and said computer program of said computer.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a computer system having a plurality of computers connected to each other, wherein each computer is connected to a shared disk and is directed by a computer program for controlling access to said shared disk, said computer program comprising: a first code for causing said computer to store structural definition information in a memory, said structural definition information describes a structure of said computer system; and a second code for causing said computer, responsive to a processing requirement from another computer, to control access to said shared disk connected to said computer based on said structural definition information, wherein said another computer controls said shared disk connected to said computer through said computer program of said another computer and said computer program of said computer.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
16 words
A computer program according to claim 59, wherein said computer system is a loosely-coupled computer system.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer program according to claim 59, wherein said computers are connected to each other by a coupling mechanism.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
14 words
A computer program according to claim 61, wherein said coupling mechanism is a bus.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
16 words
A computer program according to claim 61, wherein said coupling mechanism includes at least a switch.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer program according to claim 61, wherein said coupling mechanism is an asynchronous transfer mode switching system.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
52 words
A computer program according to claim 59, wherein said second code comprises: a requirement acceptance judging code for causing said computers to check whether access to said shared disk from said another computer is permitted based on said structural definition information and perform control of said access if said access is permitted.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
61 words
A computer program according to claim 65, wherein said structural definition information includes information indicating a corresponding relation between virtual identifiers and said shared disks and information indicating for each virtual identifier which of said computers is permitted to access the shared disk corresponding to said virtual identifiers, and wherein said control of said access is performed using said virtual identifiers.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
41 words
A computer program according to claim 59, wherein said second code comprises: a remote processing requirement code for causing said computer to issue a remote processing requirement to said another computer to access said shared disk connected to said another computer.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program according to claim 65, wherein said second code comprises: a remote processing requirement a code for causing said computer to issue a remote processing requirement to said another computer to access said shared disk connected to said another computer.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
41 words
A computer program according to claim 66, wherein said second code comprises: a remote processing requirement code for causing said computer to issue a remote processing requirement to said another computer to access said shared disk connected to said another computer.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
36 words
A computer program according to claim 59, wherein said second code comprises: a remote processing requirement processing code for causing said computer to process said remote processing requirement when access to said shared disk is permitted.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
100 words
A computer program according to claim 65, wherein said second code comprises: a remote processing requirement code for causing said computer to issue a remote processing requirement to said another computer to access said shared disk connected to said another computer; wherein said requirement acceptance judging code, responsive to a remote processing requirement from another computer, checks said structural definition information to determine whether access to said shared disk is permitted; and a remote processing requirement processing code for causing said computer to process said remote processing requirement from said another computer when access to said shared disk is permitted.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
100 words
A computer program according to claim 66, wherein said second code comprises: a remote processing requirement code for causing said computer to issue a remote processing requirement to said another computer to access said shared disk connected to said another computer; wherein said requirement acceptance judging code, responsive to a remote processing requirement from another computer, checks said structural definition information to determine whether access to said shared disk is permitted; and a remote processing requirement processing code for causing said computer to process said remote processing requirement from said another computer when access to said shared disk is permitted.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer program according to claim 59, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer program according to claim 65, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer program according to claim 66, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer program according to claim 67, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer program according to claim 68, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer program according to claim 69, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer program according to claim 70, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer program according to claim 71, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer program according to claim 72, wherein said computer system is changed to a different structure by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer program according to claim 66, wherein correspondence between said virtual identifiers and said shared disks can be changed by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer program according to claim 69, wherein correspondence between said virtual identifiers and said shared disks can be changed by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer program according to claim 72, wherein correspondence between said virtual identifiers and said shared disks can be changed by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer program according to claim 75, wherein correspondence between said virtual identifiers and said shared disks can be changed by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer program according to claim 78, wherein correspondence between said virtual identifiers and said shared disks can be changed by changing said structural definition information.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer program according to claim 71, wherein correspondence between said virtual identifiers and said shared disks can be changed by changing said structural definition information.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-09 | 2003-02-08 | 2003-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-09 | 2007-02-08 | 2007-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-09 | 2011-02-08 | 2011-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |