Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for an interface module to interface with an enclosure services processor are described herein. The interface module may include one or more state machines configured to provide an enclosure service operation. Provision of this enclosure service operation may be at least partially unsupervised by a control processor requesting the enclosure service operation. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: An embedded disk controller comprises a first processor in communication with a first bus and a second processor in communication with a second bus. An external bus controller (“EBC”) is located on the embedded disk controller, is coupled to an external bus and to at least one of the first bus and the second bus, and manages a plurality of memory devices external to the embedded disk controller via the external bus. A first one of the plurality of memory devices has at least one of different timing characteristics and a different data width than a second one of the plurality of memory devices.

Abstract: A system and method for an embedded disk controller is provided. The embedded disk controller includes a main processor in communication with a first bus. A second processor communicates with a second bus. An external bus interface controller (“EBC”) located on the embedded disk controller manages a plurality of memory devices external to the system embedded disk controller via an external bus interface and coupled to the first bus and an external bus. Each of the plurality of memory devices has at least one of different timing characteristics and different data widths. The EBC is coupled to the first bus and stores at least one of a segment descriptor register and at least a device range register.

Abstract: A history module for monitoring plural components in an embedded disk controller with a first main processor operationally coupled to a first bus and a second processor operationally coupled to a second bus is provided. The history module includes an event control module that receives break point conditions that stops the history module from recording information of a component; and a first register that allows selection or-de-selection of certain components in the embedded disk controller. The first register can also store a trigger mode value, which specifies a number of entries that are made in history module buffer(s) after a break point condition is detected.

Abstract: A system for an embedded disk controller is provided. The system includes a first main processor operationally coupled to a high performance bus; a second processor operationally coupled to a peripheral bus; a bridge that interfaces between the high performance and peripheral bus; an external bus controller coupled to the high performance bus and operationally coupled to external devices via an external bus interface; an interrupt controller module that can generate a fast interrupt to the first main processor; a history module coupled to the high performance and peripheral bus for monitoring bus activity; and a servo controller that is coupled to the second processor through a servo controller interface and provides real time servo controller information to the second processor. The second processor may be a digital signal processor that is operationally coupled to the first main processor through an interface.

Abstract: A system and method for an embedded disk controller is provided with an external bus interface controller (“EBC”) for managing devices external to the system via an external bus interface, wherein the EBC is coupled to a high performance bus and includes at least a segment descriptor register and at least a device range register. The segment descriptor register allows firmware to program timing characteristics of the devices. The device range register enables the first main processor to access an address space in the devices.

Abstract: A system for an embedded disk controller is provided. The system includes a first main processor operationally coupled to a high performance bus; a second processor operationally coupled to a peripheral bus; a bridge that interfaces between the high performance and peripheral bus; an external bus controller coupled to the high performance bus and operationally coupled to external devices via an external bus interface; an interrupt controller module that can generate a fast interrupt to the first main processor; a history module coupled to the high performance and peripheral bus for monitoring bus activity; and a servo controller that is coupled to the second processor through a servo controller interface and provides real time servo controller information to the second processor. The second processor may be a digital signal processor that is operationally coupled to the first main processor through an interface.

Abstract: A history module for monitoring plural components in an embedded disk controller with a first main processor operationally coupled to a first bus and a second processor operationally coupled to a second bus is provided. The history module includes an event control module that receives break point conditions that stops the history module from recording information of a component; and a first register that allows selection or-de-selection of certain components in the embedded disk controller. The first register can also store a trigger mode value, which specifies a number of entries that are made in history module buffer(s) after a break point condition is detected.

Abstract: An improved fault detection system and method for detecting the occurrence of faults within the addressing logic of a storage device is provided. Data stored to a selected address within a storage device includes a copy of the selected address. During a subsequent read operation, the copy of the address is read from memory and compared to the read address used to perform the memory access. If the addresses are not the same, a potential addressing fault occurred within the control logic of the storage device. The fault detection system is particularly adaptable for use with storage devices having a relatively small number of addressable locations, each containing a relatively large number of bits. According to one embodiment of the invention, the storage device is a General Register Array (GRA) utilized as a queue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently download and/or upload critical data elements between a computer's memory to/from a data save disk system, when a failure of a primary power source is detected. This is accomplished by coupling the data save disk system directly to the memory module such that the data elements in the memory module may be downloaded directly to the data save disk system without any intervention by a host computer. This configuration may have a number of advantages. First, the speed at which the data elements may be downloaded from the memory module to the data save disk system may be enhanced due to the direct coupling therebetween. Second, significant power savings may be realized because only the memory module and the data save disk system need to be powered by a secondary power source to effect the download operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently reading or writing a number of successive address locations within a memory. In an exemplary embodiment, a processor or the like may not be required to provide an address to a memory unit for each read and/or write operation when successive address locations are accessed. That is, for multiple memory accesses which access successive address locations, the processor or the like may provide an initial address but thereafter may not be required to provide subsequent addresses to the memory unit. The subsequent addresses may be automatically generated by an automatic-increment block.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing fault detection to a corresponding bus when one or more of the users connected to the bus does not have a fault detection capability provided therein. Further, the present invention may provide a method and apparatus for performing fault detection on a corresponding bus when the width of the bus is insufficient to accommodate a number of parity bits. In an exemplary embodiment, a selected one of the number of users may validate all bus transmissions via a number of transceivers, regardless of which user has a fault detection capability provided therein. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a transmitting user may provide a data word and a number of corresponding parity bits. The transmitting user may provide the data word to the bus while storing the corresponding number of parity bits therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the efficiency of a dynamic read and/or write operation of a memory element within a computer system. The dynamic read and/or write operation may be performed when the computer system is in a functional mode or a test mode. The present invention may reduce the number of bits that are required to be serially shifted into a design by providing an auto-increment block. It is recognized that most multi-word access to a memory are made to sequential address locations within the memory. The auto-increment block takes advantage of this and automatically manipulates the address thereby not requiring subsequent addresses to be serially shifted into the design. Further, the control word may be stored within the design for subsequent accesses. That is, the support controller may shift a starting address and a control word into the design.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for isolating an error in a system having a controller or the like which access a user via an interface device. The controller or the like may be coupled to the interface device via a first bus and the interface device may be coupled to the user via a second bus. The controller or the like may detect an error in a data transfer from the user to the controller via the interface device, and may isolate the error to the second bus/interface device or the first bus/controller. This up-front error isolation may reduce the amount of analysis required by a service technician after a corresponding PC board or the like is removed from the system, thereby reducing the cost thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently identifying and indicating the severity of the fault within a computer system. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the circuitry of a computer system may be divided into a number of groups. Each group may contain circuitry which may result in the same fault type. For example, predetermined circuitry which, when a fault is detected therein, may have a minimal affect on the normal operation of the computer system may be provided in a first group. Similarly, predetermined circuitry which, when a fault is detected therein, may have an immediate affect on the normal operation of the computer system may be provided in a second group. Each group may provide an error priority signal to a support controller. The support controller may interpret the number of error priority signals provided by the number of groups and may determine the appropriate time to take corrective action thereon.

Abstract: A system and method for updating partial blocks of file data stored in a non-volatile storage within a file cache system connected to a host computer system. A first buffer and a last buffer receive from the non-volatile storage the existing portions of the blocks that are to be retained. A write buffer receives new data of a size not equal to an integral multiple of a block from a host computer system. The new data is merged under hardware control with the existing portions contained in the first buffer and the last buffer, thereby updating the cached file.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identify the source and nature of an error, without aborting the operation of the computer system. In one embodiment of the present invention, the source of the error may be a hardware element and the nature of the error may be identified as either fatal or non-fatal. If the nature of the error is considered non-fatal, the present invention may correct the error and continue the operation of the computer system. This may allow detected errors to be handled immediately after they occur, rather than aborting the operation of the computer system and waiting for a support controller or the like to analyze the error. This may significantly enhance the reliability and performance of a corresponding computer system. This may be especially important during time critical operations. Further, since the operation of the computer system may be aborted a fewer number of times, the present invention may minimize the amount of data loss.

Abstract: A novel partitioned parity check and regeneration circuit is provided for receiving an input data word which is partitioned and the partitioned bits are stored in a partitioning register to provide a subset input data word of fewer data bits than the input data word. Parity register means including a parity register are associated with the partitioning register to provide a parity check of the partitioned data word and for generating an error detect signal when the data bits in the partitioning register are not properly latched. The parity bits stored in the associated parity register are employed with associated output logic to generate regenerated parity bits associated with the output of the data bits in the partitioning register to preserve the integrity of the data.