US5519853A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for enhancing synchronous I/O in a computer system with a non-volatile memory and using an acceleration device driver in a computer operating system
Assignee: EMC Corp
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Filing: 1994-04-29
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Granted: 1996-05-21
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Expires: 2014-04-29
Abstract
Abstract An acceleration device for enhancing the speed of synchronous writes in a computer system includes a novel control subsystem, in one embodiment a device driver, and stable storage having an access time on the same order of magnitude as the access time of the main memory in the computer system. In one embodiment, the novel device driver is interposed in the operating system of the computer between the proprietary kernel and one or more peripheral storage unit device drivers. The novel device driver intercepts I/O commands, for example, synchronous write commands, from the operating system that are intended for one of the peripheral storage unit device drivers and subsequently copies the data specified in the write command from main memory of the computer to the stable storage of the acceleration device. The stable storage is operated as a cache and upon one of a set of predetermined conditions being satisfied, selected data stored in the stable storage are transferred, i.e., flushed to the appropriate peripheral storage device using the device driver for that storage device. The set of predetermined conditions includes user commands and the charge of the battery supplying power to the stable storage becoming low.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph P. Moran
- 👤 Russel P. Sandberg
- 👤 Donald C. Coleman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:18
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/10; G06F13/102; G06F12/00; G06F12/02; G06F12/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
In a computer system having a memory with a first access time, a peripheral storage device with a second access time, and a computer operating system that includes a peripheral storage device driver for synchronous transfer of information between said memory and said peripheral storage device, a synchronous operation acceleration device comprising: stable storage with a third access time wherein said third access time is approximately on the same order of magnitude as said first access time, said stable storage coupled to said memory and said peripheral storage device; and control subsystem, included in said computer operating system, that transfers information to and from said stable storage, said control subsystem synchronously transferring data between said memory and said stable storage in response to a synchronous command from said computer operating system intended to transfer information to said peripheral storage device driver, and said control subsystem transferring a selected portion of said data from said stable storage to said peripheral storage device driver upon a user command.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
In a computer system having a memory with a first access time, a peripheral storage device with a second access time, and a computer operating system that includes a peripheral storage device driver for synchronous transfer of information between said memory and said peripheral storage device, a synchronous operation acceleration device comprising: stable storage with a third access time wherein said third access time is approximately on the same order of magnitude as said first access time, said stable storage coupled to said memory and said peripheral storage device; and control subsystem, included in said computer operating system, that transfers information to and from said stable storage, said control subsystem synchronously transferring data between said memory and said stable storage in response to a synchronous command from said computer operating system intended to transfer information to said peripheral storage device driver, and said control subsystem transferring a selected portion of said data from said stable storage to said peripheral storage device driver upon a user command.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The synchronous operation acceleration device of claim 1 wherein said user command includes a command to unmount said peripheral storage device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The synchronous operation acceleration device of claim 1 wherein said user command includes a command to shutdown said computer system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The synchronous operation acceleration device of claim 1 wherein said stable storage is a non-volatile memory.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The synchronous operation acceleration device of claim 4 wherein said stable storage is a cache with least-recently-used data replacement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The synchronous operation acceleration device of claim 1 wherein said control subsystem comprises a device driver for said stable storage wherein said stable storage device driver is different from said peripheral storage device driver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The synchronous operation acceleration device of claim 6 wherein said stable storage device driver intercepts a synchronous write command which is intended for said peripheral storage device driver, and said stable storage device driver, in response to said synchronous write command, synchronously copies data, specified in said synchronous write command, from said memory of said computer system to said stable storage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a computer system having a peripheral storage device operatively coupled to said computer system, CPU, main memory having a first access time, stable storage having a second access time, and a computer operating system including a peripheral storage device driver for said peripheral storage device, a method for enhancing synchronous I/O operations in said computer system comprising: transferring data, specified in selected synchronous I/O operations intended for said peripheral storage device driver, between said stable storage and said main memory using an acceleration device driver contained in said computer operating system, wherein said second access time is approximately on the same order of magnitude as said first access time; and transferring a selected portion of said data from said stable storage to said peripheral storage device using said acceleration device driver upon a user command.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a computer system having a peripheral storage device operatively coupled to said computer system, CPU, main memory having a first access time, stable storage having a second access time, and a computer operating system including a peripheral storage device driver for said peripheral storage device, a method for enhancing synchronous I/O operations in said computer system comprising: transferring data, specified in selected synchronous I/O operations intended for said peripheral storage device driver, between said stable storage and said main memory using an acceleration device driver contained in said computer operating system, wherein said second access time is approximately on the same order of magnitude as said first access time; and transferring a selected portion of said data from said stable storage to said peripheral storage device using said acceleration device driver upon a user command.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said user command includes a command to unmount said peripheral storage device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said user command includes a command to shutdown said computer system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
186 words
In a computer system having a memory with a first access time, a peripheral storage device with a second access time, and a computer operating system that includes a peripheral storage device driver for synchronous transfer of information between said memory and said peripheral storage device, a synchronous operation acceleration device comprising: stable storage with a third access time wherein said third access time is approximately on the same order of magnitude as said first access time, said stable storage coupled to said memory and said peripheral storage device; power supply that provides power to said stable storage, said power supply coupled to said stable storage; and control subsystem, included in said computer operating system, that transfers information to and from said stable storage, said control subsystem synchronously transferring data between said memory and said stable storage in response to a synchronous command from said computer operating system intended to transfer information to said peripheral storage device driver, and said control subsystem transferring a selected portion of said data from said stable storage to said peripheral storage device driver upon a change in said power supply.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
186 words
In a computer system having a memory with a first access time, a peripheral storage device with a second access time, and a computer operating system that includes a peripheral storage device driver for synchronous transfer of information between said memory and said peripheral storage device, a synchronous operation acceleration device comprising: stable storage with a third access time wherein said third access time is approximately on the same order of magnitude as said first access time, said stable storage coupled to said memory and said peripheral storage device; power supply that provides power to said stable storage, said power supply coupled to said stable storage; and control subsystem, included in said computer operating system, that transfers information to and from said stable storage, said control subsystem synchronously transferring data between said memory and said stable storage in response to a synchronous command from said computer operating system intended to transfer information to said peripheral storage device driver, and said control subsystem transferring a selected portion of said data from said stable storage to said peripheral storage device driver upon a change in said power supply.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The synchronous operation acceleration device of claim 11 wherein said power supply is a battery.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The synchronous operation acceleration device of claim 12 wherein said change is the charge in said battery becoming low.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The synchronous operation acceleration device of claim 11 wherein said stable storage is a non-volatile memory.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The synchronous operation acceleration device of claim 14 wherein said stable storage is a cache with least-recently-used data replacement.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The synchronous operation acceleration device of claim 11 wherein said control subsystem comprises a device driver for said stable storage wherein said stable storage device driver is different from said peripheral storage device driver.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
The synchronous operation acceleration device of claim 16 wherein said stable storage device driver intercepts a synchronous write command which is intended for said peripheral storage device driver, and said stable storage device driver, in response to said synchronous write command, synchronously copies data, specified in said synchronous write command, from said memory of said computer system to said stable storage.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a computer system having a peripheral storage device operatively coupled to said computer system, CPU, main memory having a first access time, stable storage having a second access time, power supply coupled to said stable storage, and a computer operating system including a peripheral storage device driver for said peripheral storage device, a method for enhancing synchronous I/O operations in said computer system comprising: transferring data, specified in selected synchronous I/O operations intended for said peripheral storage device driver, between said stable storage and said main memory using an acceleration device driver contained in said computer operating system, wherein said second access time is approximately on the same order of magnitude as said first access time; and transferring a selected portion of said data from said stable storage to said peripheral storage device using said acceleration device driver upon a change in said power supply.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a computer system having a peripheral storage device operatively coupled to said computer system, CPU, main memory having a first access time, stable storage having a second access time, power supply coupled to said stable storage, and a computer operating system including a peripheral storage device driver for said peripheral storage device, a method for enhancing synchronous I/O operations in said computer system comprising: transferring data, specified in selected synchronous I/O operations intended for said peripheral storage device driver, between said stable storage and said main memory using an acceleration device driver contained in said computer operating system, wherein said second access time is approximately on the same order of magnitude as said first access time; and transferring a selected portion of said data from said stable storage to said peripheral storage device using said acceleration device driver upon a change in said power supply.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said power supply is a battery.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said change is the charge in said battery becoming low.
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) | 1999-05-21 | 1999-11-20 | 2000-05-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-05-21 | 2003-11-20 | 2004-05-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-05-21 | 2007-11-20 | 2008-05-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |