Patent ID: 7111158

Claim:
A data storage system, comprising: a Serial ATA device; and a control subsystem having a first host, a second host, and a communications medium which interconnects the first and second hosts to the Serial ATA device; the first and second hosts being configured to share control of the Serial ATA device through the communications medium; the first and second hosts, when transitioning control of the Serial ATA device, being configured to: send a sleep command from the first host to the Serial ATA device, the sleep command directing the Serial ATA device to transition from a normal operating mode to a sleep mode, provide a notification signal from the first host to the second host, the notification signal indicating that the first host has released control of the Serial ATA device to the second host, and send a wake command from the second host to the Serial ATA device in response to the notification signal, the wake command directing the Serial ATA device to transition from the sleep mode to the normal operating mode.