Patent ID: 7076636
Filing Date: 2006-07-11
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. In a data storage system having (a) a set of storage devices, (b) a memory circuit board that includes (1) a cache to temporarily store copies of data elements stored in the set of storage devices, and (2) a shared data structure utilized in managing the use of the cache, and (c) a processor circuit board that operates as at least one of a front-end interface between an external device and the cache and a back-end interface between the cache and the set of storage devices, the processor circuit board being operative with the memory circuit board to perform memory operations including (1) a basic operation to manipulate a memory location of the memory circuit board, and (2) a complex operation to manipulate the shared data structure, a method by which the memory circuit board performs its part of the memory operations, comprising: (i) receiving from the processor circuit board a communication that includes a command field and a payload field; (ii) determining whether the command field contains a basic write command or a script command, the basic write command being present when the communication is generated by the processor circuit board as part of the basic operation, the script command being present when the communication is generated as part of the complex operation; (iii) if the command field of the communication contains the basic write command, then writing data from the payload field of the communication into the memory location; and (iv) if the command field of the communication contains the script command, then performing the following steps: