Patent ID: 7873662

Claim:
A method for exchanging information between a central system and a satellite system, which executes at least one operation of the central system, said method comprising: a first step which includes sending a read command identified by a first logical unit number from the satellite system to the central system; a second step which includes sending from said central system a first data block containing said operation in response to said read command, wherein said first data block includes an operation control block and a corresponding operation data block each associated with said operation, wherein said first data block includes a first field containing commands or data of said operation; and a header containing a second field for identifying a logical channel corresponding to said operation and a third field for indicating a length of the first field; a third step which includes receiving said first data block in the satellite system in order to process said operation, said second step and said third step being performed concomitantly; transmitting, by said satellite system, said operation control block to a control portion of a peripheral coupler of the satellite system; and transmitting, by said satellite system, said operation data block to a data portion of the peripheral coupler of the satellite system; and a fourth step which includes sending a write command from the satellite system to the central system identified by a second logical unit number and a second data block resulting from said operation, wherein said operation control block and said operation data block are used by said satellite system to execute said operation using a peripheral subsystem operably coupled to said satellite system via said peripheral coupler, wherein said first step is performed using a first directional link, wherein said second step is performed using said first directional link, wherein said fourth step is performed using a second directional link having a different coupler from said first directional link, wherein said satellite system is master for the first and second directional links, wherein said first directional link is a downlink from said satellite system to said central system, and wherein said second directional link is an uplink from said satellite system to said central system.