Patent ID: 7171500
Filing Date: 2007-01-30
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A SAS controller adapted for performing SAS protocol link layer processing in the role of a SAS target, the controller comprising: an interface to a SAS protocol transport layer processing element wherein the controller is adapted to receive a request from the transport layer through the interface to re-establish a connection to a particular SAS initiator device, and wherein the particular SAS initiator device is identified by a supplied index value in the request, and wherein the supplied index value comprises fewer bits than the SAS address in the request; a table having a plurality of entries each storing a corresponding SAS address for a SAS initiator device; a SAS protocol link layer processing element coupled to the interface and coupled to the table wherein the link layer is adapted to use the supplied index value and the table to determine the corresponding SAS address for the particular SAS initiator device, and wherein the link layer is adapted to use the corresponding SAS address in an OPEN request to re-establish the requested connection to the particular SAS initiator device; wherein the SAS protocol link layer processing element comprises a plurality of SAS protocol link layer processing elements each coupled to the interface and each coupled to the table; and an arbitrator for arbitrating among the plurality of SAS protocol link layer processing elements when multiple of the plurality of SAS protocol link layer processing elements attempts to access the table.