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:
Feb. 24, 1998
Filed:
Sep. 02, 1992
Brent Cameron Beardsley, Tucson, AZ (US);
Michael Thomas Benhase, Tucson, AZ (US);
Lawrence Carter Blount, Tucson, AZ (US);
Susan Kay Candelaria, Tucson, AZ (US);
Joseph Smith Hyde, Tucson, AZ (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A method and system for enhancing the efficiency of communication between one or more host computers and a storage system controller during a data search within either the associated storage systems or within the storage system controller itself. A storage system controller, coupled to one or more host computers via multiple communication channels, is utilized to control access to one or more direct access storage devices. A host computer authorizes the storage system controller to search within a range of data locations within the storage system, sets an initial location from which the data search will begin, and specifies a key field argument to search for. The host computer then permits the storage system controller to independently search the authorized range of data locations within the storage system or within cache memory within the storage system controller. The storage system controller examines multiple records within the authorized range of data locations to locate a desired record associated with the key field argument and presents a status report to the host computer only after the desired record is located or the entire range of data is searched and the desired record was not located. Allowing the storage system controller to independently search records and report status only after completion of an attempt to find a desired record within an authorized range of records minimizes communication overhead. Reducing the number of status reports presented over the communication channel enhances communication efficiency.