Abstract: A single microprocessor (22) hard disk drive (10) having a shared buffer memory (40) for storing sector data as well as microprocessor variables and code includes a buffer manager (38) for arbitrating requests from various channels or clients for access to the shared buffer memory. The buffer manager arranges channels including a disk data channel (32, 140), a host interface channel (50, 140), and microprocessor channels (144, 148) into a round-robin circular priority queue, with the disk data channel normally assigned the highest priority for buffer access. A state machine carries out an arbitration cycle by sequentially servicing access requests pending within the queue. The state machine senses (139) a servo interrupt (SVOINT) to elevate the priority of any pending microprocessor access requests to the shared buffer, such that the requests are serviced and cleared rapidly to allow the servo interrupt servicing routine to start sooner.

Abstract: A single microprocessor (22) hard disk drive (10) having a shared buffer memory (40) for storing sector data as well as microprocessor variables and code includes a buffer manager (38) for arbitrating requests from various channels or clients for access to the shared buffer memory. The buffer manager arranges channels including a disk data channel (32, 140), a host interface channel (50, 140), and microprocessor channels (144, 148) into a round-robin circular priority queue, with the disk data channel normally assigned the highest priority for buffer access. A state machine carries out an arbitration cycle by sequentially servicing access requests pending within the queue. The state machine senses (139) a servo interrupt (SVOINT) to elevate the priority of any pending microprocessor access requests to the shared buffer, such that the requests are serviced and cleared rapidly to allow the servo interrupt servicing routine to start sooner.

Abstract: A single microprocessor (22) hard disk drive (10) having a shared buffer memory (40) for storing sector data as well as microprocessor variables and code includes a buffer manager (38) for arbitrating requests from various channels or clients for access to the shared buffer memory. The buffer manager arranges channels including a disk data channel (32, 140), a host interface channel (50, 140), and microprocessor channels (144, 148) into a round-robin circular priority queue, with the disk data channel normally assigned the highest priority for buffer access. A state machine carries out an arbitration cycle by sequentially servicing access requests pending within the queue. The state machine senses (139) a servo interrupt (SVOINT) to elevate the priority of any pending microprocessor access requests to the shared buffer, such that the requests are serviced and cleared rapidly to allow the servo interrupt servicing routine to start sooner.