Using device control field to implement non-disruptive notification of an ATA device
View Patent ↗An Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) device is disclosed for communicating with a host. The ATA device receives a command from the host, and while the ATA device is busy processing the command, the ATA device receives intra-command data from the host in at least one bits 3, 4, 5 , and 6 in a device control field. In one embodiment the ATA device is a parallel ATA device, and the device control field is part an ATA task file. In another embodiment, the ATA device is a serial ATA device, and the device control field is part of a host to device Frame Information Structure (FIS).
1. A method of a host communicating with an Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) device, the ATA device comprising a device control field, the method comprising:
transmitting a command to the ATA device; and
while the ATA device is busy processing the command, configuring at least one of bits 3 , 4 , 5 , and 6 in the device control field to transmit intra-command data to the ATA device.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein configuring at least one of bits 3 , 4 , 5 , and 6 in the device control field to transmit intra-command data to the ATA device is done while a BSY bit is set indicating that the ATA device is busy processing the command.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the device control field is part of an ATA task file.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the device control field is part of a host-to-device Frame Information Structure (FIS); and
the FIS comprises a FIS type of 27h.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ATA device comprises a disk drive.
6. An Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) device comprising control circuitry configured to:
receive a command from a host; and
while processing the command, receive intra-command data from the host in at least one of bits 3 , 4 , 5 , and 6 in a device control field.
7. The ATA device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to set a BSY bit while processing the command, wherein the BSY bit is set when the intra-command data is received.
8. The ATA device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the device control field is part of an ATA task file.
9. The ATA device as recited in claim 6 , wherein:
the device control field is part of a host-to-device Frame Information Structure (FIS); and
the FIS comprises a FIS type of 27h.
10. The ATA device as recited in claim 6 , wherein intra-command data is received from the host as a single bit of the device control field.
11. The ATA device as recited in claim 6 , wherein intra-command data is received from the host as multiple bits of the device control field.
12. The ATA device as recited in claim 11 , wherein a first one of the bits indicates a condition is present and at least two other of the bits identify the condition.
13. The ATA device as recited in claim 11 , wherein a first one of the bits is toggled to indicate a condition is no longer present and at least two other of the bits identify the condition.
14. The ATA device as recited in claim 11 , wherein setting one of the bits enables the use of bits 0 , 1 , 2 , and 7 to transmit the intra-command data.
15. The ATA device as recited in claim 11 , wherein bit 0 is set to enable the use of bits 1 , 2 , and 7 to transmit the intra-command data to the ATA device.
16. The ATA device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
receive an identify device command from the host; and
transmit support data to the host identifying a protocol for the ATA device receiving the intra-command data.
17. The ATA device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the intra-command data identifies an environmental condition.
18. The ATA device as recited in claim 17 , wherein the intra-command data identifies a free fall condition.
19. The ATA device as recited in claim 16 , wherein the intra-command data identifies temperature condition.
20. The ATA device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the intra-command data identifies a security condition.
21. The ATA device as recited in claim 20 , wherein the security condition indicates a universal serial bus device has been connected to the host.
22. The ATA device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the intra-command data configures a power mode of the ATA device.
23. The ATA device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the intra-command data configures a background mode of the ATA device.
24. An Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) device comprising control circuitry configured to:
receive a command from a host; and
while processing the command, receive intra-command data from the host in at least one of bits 2 - 7 in a device control field when bit 0 of the device control field is set.
25. A system comprising a host coupled to an Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) device, wherein: the host is configured to transmit a command to the ATA device; and
while the ATA device is busy processing the command, the ATA device is configured to receive intra-command data from the host in at least one of bits 3 , 4 , 5 , and 6 in a device control field.