Patent ID: 6055603
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A storage system comprising:a host controller configured to receive data requests from a host computer and store the data requests in a request queue within said host controller;a memory coupled to the host controller and including a mailbox location for temporarily storing data associated with the data requests from the host computer; anda disk controller coupled to the memory and further coupled to at least one mass storage device within said storage system, said disk controller responsive to placement of a first data request in said mailbox location for performing a data transaction between said at least one mass storage device and said memory and setting a done status flag in said mailbox location when said data transaction is complete,said host controller responsive to said done status flag being in a set state for checking said request queue to determine if a second data request is outstanding for said at least one mass storage device and for placing said second request into said mailbox location before transferring data associated with said first data request to said host computer,said disk controller responsive to placement of said second data request in said mailbox for performing a second data transaction between said memory and said at least one mass storage device while said data associated with said first data request is transferred from said memory to said host computer.