Patent ID: 6240470
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A magnetic disk control unit having an active-interchange function to interchange firmware while operating in connection with a high-order device, said firmware including:an internal table area for retaining various data necessary for controlling said firmware;a save area for temporarily saving said data in said internal table area, which data is to be needed before and after the interchange of said firmware during the active-interchange of said firmware;an interruption control section for selectively serving a normal function to handle a received interruption signal, by referring to said data stored in said internal table area, in accordance with the kind of interruption signal and a busy response function to output a busy signal, which is indicative of a busy status of a lower device, to said high-order device during the active-interchange of said firmware; anda firmware-interchange interruption control section dedicated for outputting the busy signal to said high-order device during active-interchange of said firmware.