Apparatus and method for fast and stable data storage
AssigneeInria Institut National De Recherche En Informatique Et En Automatique
InventorsMichel P. P. A. Banatre, Jean-Pierre A. F. J. Banatre, Florimond E. A. Ployette, Bertrand J. G. Decouty, Yves H. Prunault
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for fast and stable information storage is provided that employs a data storage apparatus having a series of non-volatile memory banks that are externally addressable and have selective write and read controls. Access to the memory banks is provided via hardware access protection mechanisms to ensure that any access to the memory banks is verified by means of an access key. Software access protection is also provided if two separate processors share a common memory bank.
Claims17
A data storage apparatus comprising:
- banks of externally addressable non-volatile memory, which are provided with selective write/read controls, and which are capable of forming a part of an address space of a processor;
- and
- access authorization means connected with said memory banks and suitable for selectively designating a memory zone constituted by at least a portion of one of the banks for a write operation or a read operation in response to an access authorization request, said write or read operation being constituted by an indivisible transfer of a group of elementary data items, said access authorization request being exclusive and destroyed after said memory zone has been addressed.
A method of transferring data between a processor and a data storage apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. accessing said data storage apparatus via access authorization means connected with memory banks of said data storage apparatus;
- b. designating a memory zone, constituted by at least a portion of one of said memory banks, selectively for a write operation or a read operation in response to an authorization request, said write and read operations being constituted by an indivisible transfer of a group of elementary data items;
- and
- c. eliminating said authorization request after said memory zone has been addressed or in response to a subsequent authorization request.
A computer system comprising:
- a. a plurality of processors interconnected by a common intercommunication medium, said processors being capable of performing one or more independent processes;
- and
- b. stable memory means connected with each of said processors, said stable memory means comprising a plurality of externally addressable memory banks having selective write/read controls, and access authorization means, connected with said memory banks, for selectively designating a memory zone constituted by at least a portion of one of the memory banks for a write or read operation in response to an access authorization request.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.