Patent ID: 6205494
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A target interface controller for connecting a target to an initiator over a communication bus, the target interface controller comprising:a) a host interface means, connected to the communication bus for communicating between the target and the initiator;b) an interface microprocessor;c) a bus interface means connected to the interface microprocessor;d) a command queuing means, connected to the bus interface means and separated from the interface microprocessor, to automatically execute a plurality of initiator commands, the command queuing means comprising:I. a means for detecting that one of the plurality of initiator commands specifies a first string of data blocks and is a threadstartcommand comprising a start of a thread;II. a means for generating a data transfer descriptor for each of the plurality of initiator commands;III. a means for detecting that an initiator command subsequent to the threadstartcommand references a second string of contiguous data blocks that sequentially follows the first string of data blocks;IV. a means for storing the data transfer descriptors generated for each initiator command;V. a means for linking the data transfer descriptors to form a thread of sequential data transfers; ande) a command execution means for retrieving the data transfer descriptors to cause the thread of sequential data transfers to be executed.