Patent ID: 6272573
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A storage system for storing electronic data used by a computer system, the storage system comprising:at least one power source;a plurality of modular units, each modular unit comprising an enclosure, a power connection system, a data transmission connection system, and a set of storage devices, wherein at least one modular unit is connected to at least one power source;a plurality of sets of storage devices, at least one set of storage devices positioned within each modular unit, each storage device having a storage media on which data is stored;a data transmission system comprising serial buses configured according to a Serial Storage Architecture for transmitting data and commands between the sets of storage devices in the modular units and the computer system, such that in the event of a loss of a connection between any one set of storage devices, data and commands can still be transmitted from and to any other set of storage devices; anda power supply system connecting modular units to at least one power source,wherein the storage devices in the modular units are interconnected through the data transmission system and power supply system such that at least one new modular unit can be added to the storage system to increase storage capacity without disrupting operations of the storage system.