Patent ID: 6018778
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of reading striped digital data from an array of disk drives, each drive having a respective data port of predetermined width coupled to an internal buffer, the method comprising the steps of:providing a single buffer memory having a data port coupled to all of the disk drive data ports for transferring digital data;providing a single address counter for addressing consecutive locations in the buffer memory;sending read commands to all of the disk drives so as to initiate read operations in all of the disk drives;waiting until read data elements are ready at all of the disk drive data ports; andafter read data elements are ready at all of the disk drive data ports, synchronously retrieving and storing the read data elements from all of the disk drive data ports into consecutive locations in the buffer memory under addressing control of the single address counter; wherein said synchronously retrieving and storing the read data elements includes:transferring a first data block comprising of a first read data element from each of the drive data ports;storing the first data block into the buffer memory concurrent with transferring a second data block consisting of a second read data element from each of the drive data ports; andrepeating said transfer and store steps until the read operation is completed.