Kenneth R Lane

US Patent:

54267587, Jun 20, 1995

Filed:

Sep 23, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/949672

Inventors:

Susan K. Candelaria - Tucson AZ
Dean L. Hanson - Tucson AZ
Robert L. Kwok - San Jose CA
Kenneth W. Lane - Tucson AZ
Donald M. Nordahl - Tucson AZ
Mark A. Reid - Tucson AZ
William G. Sherman - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1200
G11B 555

US Classification:

395425

Abstract:

A method and system for enhancing the efficiency of data accessing within a storage subsystem which is coupled to a host system via a storage subsystem controller and a data channel. The storage subsystem controller preferably includes a tracked cyclic storage device which has multiple disks which are rotatable about a single spindle. Recording tracks within each disk are then accessed utilizing multiple switchable transducer heads. A signal transmitted from the host system is utilized to define a sequence in which a group of recording tracks are to be accessed. That signal is then utilized to create a transducer head switching table within the storage subsystem controller which lists each recording track to be accessed and an associated control parameter for selecting a particular transducer head to be utilized to access a subsequent recording track. Each time the end of an accessed recording track is encountered, the transducer head switching table is accessed and the control parameter associated with that track is accessed and coupled to the tracked cyclic storage device transducer head switch in order to select a subsequent recording track for access. In this manner, a plurality of tracks may be accessed in any desired order.

US Patent:

58156569, Sep 29, 1998

Filed:

Sep 23, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/949668

Inventors:

Susan Kay Candelaria - Tucson AZ
Michael Howard Hartung - Tucson AZ
Dennis Albert Kukula - Henderson NV
Kenneth Wayne Lane - Tucson AZ
Vernon John Legvold - Tucson AZ
Guy Eugene Martin - Austin TX
John Norbert McCauley - Tucson AZ
Carol Santich Michod - Tucson AZ
Mark Albert Reid - Tucson AZ
William Lee Richardson - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1100

US Classification:

39518507

Abstract:

A data processing system executes a plurality of processes in parallel. The processes access shared user records stored in memory serially. One or more data structures are used to track access by processes to the data structures and to the user records. Responsive to a fault occurring in a first parallel process, a signal is given the remaining parallel processes indicating the failure. Responsive to the failure, it is determined if the faulting parallel process had access to one of the data structures. Depending upon the circumstances of access, integrity of the user records may be assumed and the record validated. The data structures themselves can be examined to determine if the contents of memory is reliable. Typically the data structures support use of the memory as a cache.