Patent ID: 6032219
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of buffering data in a system having a memory, organized into sectors, with a plurality of files of data stored therein, a processor connected to said memory, a buffer having a plurality of buffer storage locations organized in a chain, said buffer connected to said processor, and a plurality of counters wherein each said counter corresponds to one of said buffer storage locations, said method comprising:(a) selecting a said sector of said memory containing desired data associated with an open one of said files;(b) scanning the buffer storage locations to determine whether said desired data is in said buffer;(c) keeping track of a selected buffer storage location that is not allocated to a file;(d) when the desired data is not found within a buffer storage location, reading the desired data from said selected sector of said memory into said selected unallocated buffer storage location;(e) considering said buffer storage location into which data of said selected sector was just stored as a matching buffer storage location for said open file;(f) pointing said processor to said matching buffer storage location; and(g) retrieving said selected data from said matching buffer storage location for processing by said processor.