Abstract: A data processing system comprises a local probe storage array having a plurality of sensors for reading data from a storage surface. A plurality of data processing elements are mounted on the storage array. Each data processing element is connected to different sensor of the array for processing data read by the connected sensor. The data processing elements may be logic gates for performing simple comparisons with input data. Alternatively, each data processing element may comprise more complex logic circuitry for performing more complex functions based on data read by the storage array. Such function may involve a combination of data read by the storage array and data input to the data processing system from an another source. Each data processing element may comprise a complete microprocessor system responsive to data read from the storage array.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a buffered program operation for plurality of words is described. In one aspect, the method and system include providing an internal buffer including a plurality of locations and at least one bit location for the plurality of locations. Each of the words is stored in a location of the plurality of locations. The words are associated with internal address bits for the locations. At least one of the internal address bits is at least one group address bit that corresponds to all of the words. A remaining portion of the internal address bits is associated at least one of the words. The at least one bit location stores the at least one group address bit for the words. Thus, in one aspect, the method and system include storing each of the words one of the buffer locations. The method and system also include associating the at least one group address bit with the buffer location for each of the words.

Abstract: Atomic operations may be implemented on a processor system having a main memory and two or more processors including a power processor element (PPE) and a synergistic processor element (SPE) that operate on different sized register lines. A main memory address containing a primitive is divided into a parity byte and two or more portions, wherein the parity byte includes at least one bit. A value of the parity byte determines which of the two or more portions is a valid portion and which of them is an invalid portion. The primitive is of a memory size that is larger than a maximum size for atomic operation with the PPE and less than or equal to a maximum size for atomic operation with the SPE. Read with reservation and conditional write instructions are used by both the PPE and SPE to access or update a value of the atomic.

Abstract: After a first device (e.g., a host node in a shared data clustered system that stores a two-way mirrored volume) in a network creates or modifies a description of a layout for a data volume, the first device transmits separate copies of the data volume layout description to a pair of second devices, respectively, for storage in respective memories thereof. The first device may be a host node, and the pair of second devices may be first and second data storage systems. The first device and the pair of second devices are configured so that I/O transactions are transmitted between the first device and either of the pair of second devices. In other words, the first device is contained in a network layer that is different from the network layer that contains the pair of second devices.

Abstract: According to the present invention, for reliably carrying out a request for access to processing data which is an object of processing in a data processing apparatus even if the processing data is not retained in a storage unit, the storage unit includes a first timer for detecting the fact that an elapsed time for the readout processing in the readout unit reaches a first predetermined time set in advance, and a first response unit for, when the processing in the readout unit continues after the detection of the first predetermined time by the first timer, transmitting a signal indicative of normal in-operation to the data processing apparatus. Moreover, the data processing apparatus includes an implementation unit for, when receiving the signal indicative of the normal in-operation from the first response unit, conducting the processing on the re-issue of the processing data access request.

Abstract: A system for write forwarding in a storage environment employing distributed virtualization includes a first and a second storage server providing access to a first and a second physical storage device, respectively, a virtual device server and a virtual device client. The virtual device server may be configured to aggregate storage in the first and second physical storage device into a virtual storage device and make the virtual storage device accessible to the virtual device client for I/O operations. An update requested by the virtual device client may require a first physical write operation at the first physical storage device and a second physical write operation at the second physical device. The virtual device client may be configured to send an update request to the first storage server, rather than to both the first and the second storage servers.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for accessing thread private data in a computer. In one embodiment, a method is provided for accessing thread private data in a computer for a program executed by using a plurality of threads, wherein each of the plurality of threads may be associated with a different area of its respective stack for storage of thread private data. Further, the stacks of threads may cover a coherent address space in a memory of the computer, starting at a base address. The method may include determining a thread identifier of the one of the plurality of threads based on the base address and a stack pointer of one of the plurality of threads. In addition, the method may include accessing thread private data of one of the stacks based on the determined thread identifier.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program are provided to reuse functional data buffers. With Extreme Data Rate (XDR™) Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), test patterns are employed to dynamically calibrate data with the clock. To perform this task, data buffers are employed to store data and commands for the calibration patterns. However, there are different procedures and requirements for transmission and reception calibrations. Hence, to reduce the amount of hardware needed to perform transmission and reception calibrations, the data buffers employ additional front end circuitry to reuse the buffers for both tasks.

Abstract: A memory controller monitors requests from one or more computer subsystems and issues one or more prefetch commands if the memory controller detects that the memory system is idle after a period of activity, or if a prefetch buffer read hit occurs. In some embodiments, results of a prefetching operations are stored in a prefetch buffer configured to provide an automatic aging mechanism, which evicts prefetched data from time to time. The prefetched data in the prefetch buffer is released and sent back to the requester in order with respect to previous memory access requests.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods of controlling data transfer between a host system and a plurality of storage devices. One embodiment is directed to a virtualization controller for controlling data transfer between a host system and a plurality of storage devices. The virtualization controller comprises a plurality of first ports for connection with the plurality of storage devices each having a storage area to store data; a second port for connection with the host system; a processor; and a memory configured to store volume mapping information which correlates first identification information used by the host system to access a first storage area in one of the storage devices, with second identification information for identifying the first storage area, the correlation being used by the processor to access the first storage area.

Abstract: A cache memory logically associates a cache line with at least two cache sectors of a cache array wherein different sectors have different output latencies and, for a load hit, selectively enables the cache sectors based on their latency to output the cache line over successive clock cycles. Larger wires having a higher transmission speed are preferably used to output the cache line corresponding to the requested memory block. In the illustrative embodiment the cache is arranged with rows and columns of the cache sectors, and a given cache line is spread across sectors in different columns, with at least one portion of the given cache line being located in a first column having a first latency, and another portion of the given cache line being located in a second column having a second latency greater than the first latency.

Abstract: A collision detection circuit for a multi-port memory system is presented. The collision detection circuit detects a collision condition if the addresses at two or more ports at the same time match and if one of the two or more ports is writing to the memory location associated with that address. A collision flag can then be set when the collision condition exists. In some embodiments, arbitration can occur when the collision flag is set.

Abstract: Information designated as a hot routine by an application program is stored in a hot routine memory of the microprocessor system. A processor requests information, and a controller controls the hot routine memory to output information requested by a processor when the hot routine memory stores the requested information. The controller includes address translation information to translate the address used in the request from the processor to an address of the information in the hot routine memory.

Abstract: A computer platform memory access control method and system is proposed, which is designed for use with a computer platform, such as a network server, for providing the server with a memory access control function with a memory configuration automatic setting capability, which is characterized by the arrangement of a configuration data exchange path between a memory control chip and an I/O control chip on the server's motherboard, so as to allow a set of memory specification data stored in an I/O configuration register of the ICH I/O control chip to be mapped via the configuration data exchange path to a memory configuration register of the memory control chip, such that a memory access action can be performed based on the memory specification data mapped from the I/O control chip. This feature allows the operation and network management of servers to be made more efficient.

Abstract: Read-copy-update (RCU) is performed within real-time and other types of systems, such that memory barrier usage within RCU is reduced. A computerized system includes processors, memory, updaters, and readers. The updaters update contents of a section of the memory by using first and second sets of per-processor counters, first and second sets of per-processor need-memory-barrier bits, and a global flip-counter bit. The global flip-counter bit specifies which of the first or second set of the per-processor counters and the per-processor need-memory-barrier bits is a current set, and which is a last set. The readers read the contents of the section of the memory by using the first and second sets of per-processor counters, the first and second sets of per-processor need-memory-barrier bits, and the global flip-counter bit, in a way that significantly reduces the need for memory barriers during such read operations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data processing apparatus and method for controlling access to a memory unit. The data processing apparatus comprises a processor operable in a plurality of modes and a plurality of domains, said plurality of domains comprising a secure domain and a non-secure domain, said plurality of modes including at least one non-secure mode being a mode in the non-secure domain and at least one secure mode being a mode in the secure domain. The processor is operable such that when executing a program in a secure mode the program has access to secure data which is not accessible when the processor is operating in a non-secure mode. A memory unit is also provided that comprises a plurality of entries and is operable to store data required by the processor.

Abstract: A distributed data cache includes a number of cache memory units or register files each having a number of cache lines. Data buses are connected with the cache memory units. Each data bus is connected with a different cache line from each cache memory unit. A number of data address generators are connected with a memory unit and the data buses. The data address generators retrieve data values from the memory unit and communicate the data values to the data buses without latency. The data address generators are adapted to simultaneously communicate each of the data values to a different data bus without latency. The cache memory units are adapted to simultaneously load data values from the data buses, with each data value loaded into a different cache line without latency.

Abstract: In a library system in which a virtual library apparatus is interposed between a library apparatus and a data processing apparatus, a collecting means collects access states to a logical volume from the data processing apparatus, a database retains the access states, and a restoring means determines a restoration priority of the logical volume on the basis of the access state, reads out the logical volume from a physical volume retaining the logical volume onto a cache according to the restoration priority, thereby restoring the logical volume to be held in the cache. Even immediately after the cache of the virtual library apparatus is replaced with another new cache, it is possible to avoid a case where the response speed to a mount request (processing request) from the data processing apparatus becomes slower than the response speed during the normal operation before replacement of the cache.

Abstract: A backup method, a backup apparatus, a program for executing a backup operation, and a recording medium for storing the program are disclosed for high-speed backup operations without any large-sized backup medium. The backup method backs up data stored in a first virtual recording medium into a backup medium under control of a virtual storage system. In the backup method, first, a second virtual recording medium is created to include a duplicate of only an actual data recording area, in which actual data are recorded, in a recording area of the first virtual recording medium. Then, backup data recorded in the second virtual recording medium are backed up into the backup medium.

Abstract: A page table mechanism translates virtual addresses to real addresses. In a first aspect, page table entries are contained in equal-sized blocks, the entries within each block corresponding to contiguous pages of virtual address space. Preferably, the common high-order portion of the virtual address is contained in segments distributed among multiple page table entries of the block. In a second aspect, the virtual address indexes a binary tree definitional structure. Decode logic traverses a binary tree defined by the definitional structure by testing selective bits of the virtual address to reach a leaf of the binary tree, which defines the location of data defining the real address.