Method and apparatus for adjusting timing signal between media controller and storage media
View Patent ↗A storage system controller ( 302 ) includes a plurality of media controllers ( 301 ), a local microprocessor ( 306 ), and a host interface logic ( 310 ), operably coupled by a multi-drop parallel bus. The multi-drop parallel bus includes a control bus ( 324 ), a payload data bus ( 320 ), a real-time ready-status (data ready) signaling bus ( 322 ) and a general microprocessor bus ( 330 ). Each media controller has a storage media ( 311 ) operably coupled thereto. Each media controller includes a parameter storage ( 404 ), a media interface circuit ( 406 ), a control data state machine ( 408 ), a command sequencer state machine ( 410 ), a media-side multi-mode transfer state machine ( 412 ), a dual-port memory ( 402 ), a memory controller ( 420 ), and a host-side transfer state machine ( 430 ). The host interface logic and the media controllers are implemented in one or more Field Programmable Gate Arrays. The storage system architecture allows the microprocessor to simultaneously broadcast a command to the media controllers, which have a capability to substantially simultaneously begin exchanging data with the storage media in response to the command. The storage system has provision for Redundant Array of Independent Disks, method 0, operation.
1. In a storage system controller having a plurality of media controllers operably coupled to a multi-drop bus, each media controller pre-assigned a physical controller number, a method comprising the steps of:
a) providing each media controller with a next physical controller number;
b) causing one media controller of the plurality of media controllers to transfer data via the multi-drop bus;
c) causing the one media controller to announce on the multi-drop bus the next physical controller number; and
d) causing another media controller of the plurality of media controllers to transfer data via the multi-drop bus, wherein the pre-assigned physical controller number of the other media controller has a same value as the next physical controller number.