The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 09, 1992
Filed:
Jul. 19, 1990
John T O'Brien, Lafayette, CO (US);
Storage Technology Corporation, Louisville, CO (US);
Abstract
The early start mode data transfer apparatus coordinates the reading and writing of data files into and out of the data buffer of the tape control unit so that a data file can be written into the data buffer while another data file is concurrently being read out of the data buffer. Thus, both the host computer and the associated tape drive units can be active at the same time reading or writing data files into the data buffer of the tape control unit. The early start mode data transfer apparatus closely coordinates the reading and writing activity of the host computers and the associated tape drive units to avoid the overwriting data files in the data buffer as well as emptying the data buffer before the complete data file is written therein. By enabling the concurrent activity of the host computers and the associated tape drive units, the early start mode data transfer apparatus improves the efficiency of the data transfers between the host computers of the data transfers between the host computers and the associated tape drive units by increasing the occupany on the associated tape drive units. Thus, the associated tape drive units can provide a greater throughput since less time is spent in a wait mode while a data file is being written into or read out of the data buffer in the tape control unit. These and other advantages of this apparatus are explained.